In the aftermath of the Pelicans’ season-ending 123–118 defeat to the Thunder in Wednesday night’s play-in tournament game, guard CJ McCollum made some postgame comments that seemed to be alluding to the absence of star forward Zion Williamson.
Williamson was inactive for the game, and hasn’t suited up for New Orleans since Jan. 2 while recovering from a hamstring injury. Guard Jose Alvarado and forward Larry Nance Jr. also missed Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma City, prompting McCollum to speak about the importance of having every player do whatever’s necessary to be ready to play on game nights.
“Availability is important, man. We’ve got to be available,” McCollum told reporters during his postgame media session. “We’ve got to do what we need to do off the court in terms of preparation, in terms of getting treatment, in terms of getting the right sleep, the right type of hydration, having the right type of diet.”
