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The New Orleans Pelicans have officially announced that forward Zion Williamson and guard CJ McCollum will miss the remainder of the season. The announcement came a day after the Pelicans defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94 without even including Williamson (back bone contusion) and McCollum (right foot bone contusion) in the lineup.
It's the latest blow for the New Orleans franchise, which currently has the fourth-worst record in the NBA (21-54) and has used 41 different starting lineups this season due to a series of injuries that ended the season for key players such as Murray, Herbert Jones and now Williamson and McCollum. None of the three Pelicans who averaged at least 20 points per game (Williamson, McCollum and Trey Murphy III) were able to finish the season.
The latest setback for 'The Beast' Williamson
This is the latest setback for Zion Williamson, the Pelicans' 2019 No. 1 draft pick, who for the fourth time in six years will play 30 games or fewer. The 24-year-old, who has been repeatedly singled out for his alleged overweight, suffered a back injury during a fall on March 19 in Minnesota and missed the next five games for New Orleans. In his eight appearances prior to the injury, Williamson had recorded his first two triple-doubles living up to his nickname of 'The Beast'.
New Orleans announced that Williamson's rehabilitation plan will consist of rest and treatment. When he is healthy, which unfortunately for them is not usually the case, his contribution to his team's game is undoubted.
Among NBA players who have debuted since the 1997-98 season, Williamson is the only one to average at least 15 points in the paint on 55% shooting in each of his first five seasons, according to ESPN Research.
Good averages in his 30 games
However, in his six seasons, Williamson has missed more games (258) than he has played (214). The two-time All-Star finishes the season with averages of 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists with 1.2 steals in 30 games.
CJ McCollum suffered his injury in the loss to Detroit on March 23, in a game in which he scored 40 points. Like Williamson, the guard will follow a treatment and rest rehabilitation program, according to his team.