Pelicans’ Zion Williamson: ‘We Are Going To Figure It Out’

The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a tough spot as they approach the quarter mark of the NBA season. After a promising 2-0 start, things have spiraled in the wrong direction.

Injuries have piled up at an alarming rate, leaving the team with a patchwork lineup and a 4-12 record that has them sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference.

Zion Williamson, the franchise cornerstone, hasn’t been on the court since Nov. 6 due to a left hamstring strain — an injury he sarcastically described as “great news.” The setback happened during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and while he finished the night with 23 points in a gutsy performance, the lingering effects became evident in the days that followed.

For a player who has dealt with recurring hamstring issues on both legs throughout his career, it’s an all-too-familiar storyline.

Williamson’s absence is just the tip of the iceberg. Dejounte Murray, acquired in the offseason to bolster the backcourt, broke his hand in his Pelicans debut. CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones have been out since before Halloween, and even rookie sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins has been sidelined for seven games with back soreness.

The Pelicans’ seven highest-paid players were unavailable in Wednesday’s loss — a situation that has become almost routine for a team trying to tread water in a competitive conference.

Despite the mounting challenges, Williamson remains optimistic.

“We know the position we are in right now,” he said, via Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “It’s not a good one at the moment. But we come in the gym every day in good spirits. We are going to figure it out.”

Still, there’s no clear timetable for his return. While Williamson reports that rehab is going well, ESPN’s Shams Charania recently stated the 6-foot-6 forward is “not remotely close” to playing again. The Pelicans are reportedly bracing for him to be sidelined longer than the typical four-to-six-week recovery window for a hamstring strain.

For New Orleans, the hope is that reinforcements are on the way. McCollum could be back as early as Monday against the Pacers. But even with those pieces potentially in play, the question remains: Can this team survive without a fully healthy Zion?

The Pelicans entered the season with playoff aspirations, and while injuries have derailed that vision for now, the message from Williamson and the locker room is clear — they’re not giving up. Whether that resolve will be enough to stop the free fall remains to be seen.