Zion Williamson remains without a date for his long-awaited return after Pelicans general manager David Griffin issued the latest update on the star forward’s health with the start of the postseason rapidly approaching.
Griffin announced Thursday that Williamson, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury against the 76ers on Jan. 2, will continue his ongoing rehab until further notice. The two-time All-Star’s continued absence will now likely carry over into the playoffs, with New Orleans—currently tied for the No. 7 seed and unable to lower than No. 9—poised to compete in the play-in tournament after clinching a spot Wednesday.
“After further evaluation, it has been determined that Zion Williamson will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning regimen. We will continue to monitor his progression, and updates will be provided as warranted,” the statement from Griffin read.
Thursday’s update adds little clarity to the latest saga surrounding Williamson’s health. To this point, there has hardly been any concrete news regarding the 22-year-old’s progress in the months since his injury. Prior to Thursday, the last news on Williamson came on March 22 when the team announced he would be reevaluated in two weeks after being cleared for on-court activity.
With Williamson’s return still up in the air, the Pelicans (41–39) will have to embark on another challenging stretch without their dynamic big man. After going 18–26 without Williamson, New Orleans will finish the season with games against the Knicks and Timberwolves on Friday and Sunday before moving on to the play-in tournament, beginning April 11.
