Zion Williamson Out For 7 To 10 Days With Hamstring Injury

At this point, any injury update on Zion Williamson is met with trepidation by Pelicans fans. After seeing their team’s franchise player go down with one serious injury after another over the past six years, these fans want nothing more than consistent availability and production from the All-Star forward.

Yet, on Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported another heartbreaking piece of news: “Pelicans' Zion Williamson is out at least 7 to 10 days with a left hamstring strain,” he tweeted.

On the surface, the loss of Williamson for at least a week is a huge blow to New Orleans. In five games this season, the 6-foot-6 power forward is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

It’s worth noting, though, that Williamson’s numbers haven’t translated into victories for the Pelicans. The team is currently dead last in the Western Conference with its 0-6 record, and they’re just a half-game away from the Brooklyn Nets’ league-wide worst record.

Still, the absence of Williamson won’t do the Pelicans any favors. He leads the ball club in points and rebounds, which means that the likes of Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III will have to work extra hard to fill the void in the stat sheet.

Heading into the season, fans were buzzing about the improved physical shape that was evident in Williamson’s training camp photos. For years, the former Duke star had been criticized for his physique, which was not exactly helpful for injury prevention.

Since the 2019-20 campaign, Williamson has played more than 60 games in just two seasons. Every other season has been an injury-riddled one, and Williamson even missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season.

Not a few critics have voiced the possibility of the Pelicans trading away their cornerstone and entering a full-blown rebuild. Williamson certainly has time to recover and get into better shape in the early goings of this season, but at some point, the Pelicans’ front office might seriously consider the possibility of a future without him.