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Zion Williamson is once again sidelined due to injury. The New Orleans Pelicans forward has been diagnosed with a grade 2 strain of his right hip adductor and will be out for at least three weeks before being reevaluated. This season alone, Williamson has already missed 11 games, a combination of recovering from a hamstring injury and sitting out during back-to-back games for rest.
While taking additional rest might be justifiable, Williamson’s availability has been a persistent issue. Since being selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has appeared in just 224 out of 493 possible games for the Pelicans, equating to participation in only 45% of the team’s matchups since his debut.
In July 2022, Williamson secured a five-year contract extension, and according to Darren Rovell, he has earned $129.9 million from the franchise to date. With his frequent absences, Williamson has collected approximately $71.4 million without stepping onto the court.
Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
What makes this situation particularly exasperating for fans and the team alike is Williamson’s undeniable talent when he plays. He has been named to two All-Star teams and has consistently averaged at least 22 points per season. Excluding this year, his true shooting percentage has consistently surpassed 60%, contributing significantly to the team’s success each season. However, as the saying goes, “the best ability is availability,” and Williamson’s prolonged absences have been a major setback.
His absences have been so frequent that the final three years of his contract have become non-guaranteed. This scenario offers the Pelicans a potential escape route as they face a challenging season with a current record of 3-19, the worst in the NBA.
This latest injury could prompt the Pelicans to reconsider their strategy with Williamson and contemplate a rebuild. However, New Orleans faces additional hurdles in this decision. Unlike larger markets, they lack the same allure to attract free agents, and the team experienced a very public separation with another top pick, Anthony Davis, in the past.
Whatever they choose, the Pelicans have a tough decision ahead of them. In the meantime, they’ll continue writing checks for their injured star.
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