Highly touted rookie out of Duke University Zion Willliamson who suffered a right lateral torn meniscus during preseason has not seen any NBA action thus far this season.
What was originally diagnosed as a 6-8 week rehabilitation process has been pushed back further according to TNT’s analyst Kristen Ledlow.
Ledlow reported,
“While Williamson has turned a corner in his rehabilitation, his return will definitely come outside of the six-to-eight week window”
ESPN’s Marc Spears, just last week stated, the forward had began working out and implemented small weights within his workout regime.
Why the Pelicans are being so cautious with Zion?
We have perhaps never seen someone with the physical specimen of Zion to be so gifted at the game of basketball at his size. Zion is 6’8 270 plus, and able to handle the rock and sky above the rim like no other.
The Pelicans sit at the 14th spot in the Western Conference standings 20 games into the season at 6-15 (1 game out of the worst spot in the West).
NBA history shows you that players with similar injuries such as (Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway ) were not able to maximize their full potential with lingering injuries.
Yes the Pelicans are competitive and will be fun to watch for the coming years, but why jeopardize the future of a potential all star caliber player such as Zion? A player who the coach wouldn’t admit at first, but lets call it like it is; Zion is there to change the landscape and narrative in New Orleans.
Could you imagine if Zion was rushed back to perform and reinjured his knee? A knee that cost him some games while at Duke. A knee that had the media and sportswriters from all over the country calling for Zion to shut it down while still enrolled at Duke.
If Zion were to rush back you guys would be the first to say He’s a bust! Let’s relax and let him heal and prepare potentially for a late season encore or even a next season debut.
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