New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is making significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring strain that has sidelined him for several weeks. The Pelicans announced on Tuesday that Williamson has entered the “return to play” phase of his rehabilitation process. While there is no definitive timeline for his return to the court, the team is taking a cautious approach, describing his status as “week-to-week.”
Williamson initially suffered the hamstring injury during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers early last month. He has not seen any game action since then, with the team originally anticipating a four-to-six-week recovery period. However, the timeline now suggests that he may be back in early January at the earliest.
The former No. 1 overall pick out of Duke has had his fair share of injury setbacks throughout his NBA career. Williamson has struggled to stay healthy, missing a significant number of games over his six seasons in the league. In the 2021-22 season, he was sidelined for the entire campaign due to a foot injury.
In the six games he has played this season, Williamson has been a standout performer, averaging 22.7 points and eight rebounds per game. His absence has been keenly felt by the struggling Pelicans, who currently hold a dismal 5-25 record, the second-worst in the league. The team has been plagued by injuries to key players, with Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, C.J. McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, Karlo Matković, and Brandon Ingram all missing time due to various ailments.
Ingram, in particular, has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain and is set to undergo another evaluation in approximately two weeks. The versatile forward has been a vital contributor for the Pelicans, averaging 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his sixth season with the team.
Despite their injury woes and poor record, the Pelicans are hopeful that Williamson’s imminent return will provide a much-needed boost to the team. While he alone cannot solve all of their issues, his presence on the court represents a significant step in the right direction for New Orleans.
As Williamson progresses through his recovery and prepares to rejoin his teammates in full practice next week, the Pelicans are cautiously optimistic about his impending comeback. Fans eagerly await his return to action, hoping that his dynamic play can help turn the team’s fortunes around in the second half of the season.
