New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins will be sidelined one to two weeks with a low back strain, the team announced Friday. Hawkins, 22, was selected 14th overall by the Pelicans in the 2023 NBA draft out of UConn.
New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Hawkins exceeded expectations last season during the absences of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram
Hawkins was absent during Monday’s 118-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and played a season-low 18:30 in Wednesday’s 131-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 67 games (10 starts) of his rookie 2023-24 season, Hawkins averaged 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 17.3 minutes per contest while shooting 38.2% from the field, 36.6% from 3-point range, and 83.8% at the free throw line.
In New Orleans’ 118-108 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 13, 2024, he recorded a career-high 34 points on 11-of-19 (57.9%) shooting from the floor, 6-of-12 (50%) from beyond the arc, and 6-of-8 (75%) at the foul line.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Jordan Hawkins has been diagnosed with a low back strain. Hawkins is expected to miss approximately 1-2 weeks while he undergoes treatment and rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/jomM49V6BL
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 8, 2024
More importantly, the Pelicans were without Zion Williamson (rest), Brandon Ingram (Achilles), C.J. McCollum (ankle) and Trey Murphy III (knee) in that matchup with Dallas.
“He was terrific,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He was locked in from the very start of the game. His game-plan discipline was off the charts. His ability to hit shots [and] make the right play on both sides of the [court]. He is getting better and better before our eyes. He is making my job extremely difficult.”
Hawkins joined five other NBA rookies with multiple 30-point games last season
Last season, Hawkins joined Brandon Miller, Chet Holmgren, GG Jackson II, Keyonte George, and Victor Wembanyama as the only rookies with multiple 30-point games.
Additionally, he became the fourth first-year player in franchise history to reach that mark. Per Stathead, the Maryland native also became the first rookie to accomplish that feat since Williamson in the 2019-20 season.
Now eight games (three starts) through his sophomore season, the 6-foot-5 guard is averaging career highs of 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 30.3 minutes per contest. The Pelicans will miss his perimeter shooting.
According to Basketball-Reference, he is currently 17th in 3-pointers made per 100 possessions and 13th in 3-point attempts per 100 possessions. His player efficiency rating (12.2), true shooting percentage (56.2%), and usage percentage (22.5%) are all career highs as well.
With an abundance of injuries, New Orleans has relied on Hawkins’ scoring to generate offensive production. The Pelicans are already without Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Murphy III, and McCollum.
New Orleans has lost six of its last seven games and are second to last in the Western Conference standings. The Pelicans take on the Magic in Orlando at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night.
