Zion Williamson Injured, Pelicans' Struggles Worsen
The New Orleans Pelicans' difficult start to the season has been compounded by a significant blow to their star player, Zion Williamson. The team announced on Tuesday, November 4th, that Williamson has been diagnosed with a grade 1 left hamstring strain, which will sideline him for at least a week. He is scheduled for reevaluation in 7 to 10 days.
This news is a considerable setback for the Pelicans, who are currently one of two winless teams in the NBA, starting the season at 0-6. Their performance has been particularly concerning, as they rank last in the league in net rating at -17.4. Williamson, despite the team's struggles, has been a standout player, leading the Pelicans in scoring (22.8 points per game), rebounding (6.8), assists (4.6), and steals (2.0).
This injury adds to a concerning pattern of health issues for Williamson throughout his professional career. Since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, he has participated in only 134 out of a possible 334 games, a participation rate of just 40.1%. Notably, he missed a game just last week due to a separate foot injury. The current hamstring issue further exacerbates a history of lower body ailments that have consistently hampered his ability to stay on the court.
It's a stark contrast to Williamson's reported condition entering this season. He dedicated significant effort to improving his physical conditioning during the offseason, arriving at training camp noticeably leaner and in what he described as the best shape of his professional career. In late September, Williamson expressed optimism, stating, "I haven't felt like this since college, high school. Where I can walk in the gym and I feel good."
Williamson is currently in his sixth NBA season, having been the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. It is important to note that he missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season. Despite being a two-time All-Star, his previous campaign in 2024-25, where he averaged an impressive 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, was once again marred by inconsistent availability. In fact, Williamson has only managed to play more than 30 games in a single season twice since entering the league.
With the Pelicans hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, Williamson's absence, even for just a week, means he will miss a crucial stretch of games. This includes matchups against the Hornets, Mavericks, Spurs, and Suns, further complicating the team's immediate prospects.
