Zion Williamson, the explosive forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, has been sidelined due to a nagging foot injury he acquired early this year. As the Pelicans fight to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs, fans are eagerly anticipating Williamson’s return to the court. The team has not provided a definitive timeline for his comeback, leaving fans wondering if Williamson will be back before the playoffs begin. With his electrifying performances and immense impact on the Pelicans, his return could be the difference between the team making the playoffs or missing out. In this article, we will explore the latest updates on Williamson’s injury and assess the likelihood of his return before the playoffs.
Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring injury last January 2, 2023.
In a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Zion Williamson suffered a right hamstring strain in a no-contact play just seconds before the 3rd quarter ended. The 22-year-old power forward felt pain in his foot thus he already knew something was wrong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuaCOKmeT-k
The Pelicans lost to the Sixers (120-111) and Williamson has not returned to the hardwood since January 2. He was also selected as an All-Star starter in the 2023 All-Star game but opted out and was replaced by Pascal Siakam.
Zion’s injury’s latest update: Will he return before the playoffs kick-off?
After his injury in January, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that he would be out indefinitely. Although the initial report was that he “could be back in three (3) weeks”, it doesn’t seem to be the case since it’s already been more almost three months since he last played.
Earlier in March, the team announced that Zion will undergo medical imaging next week to further assess his status. Before Zion was injured, the Pelicans had a record of 23-14 and were the 3rd seed in the stacked Western Conference. But, as the former 1st overall pick went down with an injury, his team also struggled. In the first 28 games without Zion, they’ve been in a rough patch as they lost 20 of those games, putting them in the 12th seed. However, in the past week, they’ve been on a great run, winning 6 of their last 10 games, and are now the 9th seed in the West. Thanks to their great performance, they’re back to possible playoff contention in a Play-In spot.
Latest update (March 30, 2023): Zion Williamson may be able to return before the season ends
According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, sources told him that Zion Williamson has already started working out with the team. He said that Zion had a “rigorous workout and is looking good”. In addition, he had information that Zion will be re-evaluated next week, just days before the 2022-2023 season concludes.
.@ChrisBHaynes shares the latest update on the return of Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com/2bpO6rKGam
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 29, 2023
The Pelicans now only have 6 games left, but it’s going to be a tough road ahead of them. They’ll be up against four great Western Conference teams in the following days: Nuggets (March 30), Clippers (April 1), Sacramento Kings (April 4), and the Memphis Grizzlies (April 5). Meanwhile, their last two games will be against the New York Knicks (April 7) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (April 9).
With Zion Williamson looking like he is healthy and ready to return to the court, plus he will be getting a re-evaluation next week, there is a great chance he could come back to the final games of the New Orleans Pelicans. Chris Haynes hinted that Zion might return to the court as soon as the end of next week, possibly in the game against the Knicks or the Timberwolves. But, as of today, Williamson is still listed by the Pelicans as “out due to injuries” and will not be playing against the Nuggets tonight.
Medical Update on Zion Williamson:
Following a re-evaluation on his right hamstring strain, Zion Williamson has been cleared to return to on-court activities. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 22, 2023
Before going down with a hamstring injury, Zion averages 26 points, 4.6 assists, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting an impressive 60.8% on the floor and 36.8% from beyond the arc.
He is the leading scorer of the team and undoubtedly the best player on the roster. The Pelicans are holding on to the hope that the 2-time All-Star will be able to return for one last push for a playoff appearance. As an integral part of the team, Zion is highly in demand, due to his stellar output. Hopefully, he and Jose Alvarado gets healthy soon.
Do you think Zion Williamson can turn things around? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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