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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New Orleans Pelicans have offered a timetable for the possible return of their star forward Zion Williamson.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Williamson will miss four-to-six weeks, depending on how his rehab goes.
"The Pelicans are bracing for him to be out about 4-6 weeks. His return will be based on rehab and how that treatment goes... They said indefinitely. They are not sure exactly how long this rehab will take him"
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Williamson was initially sidelined indefinitely with a left hamstring strain.
This is the same hamstring that Williamson injured during the Pelicans' loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Play-In Tournament last season.
This has become the new norm for Williamson in his NBA career. Williamson had been off to a frustrating start in his sixth NBA season. He missed the Pelicans' opener due to illness and was scratched from three of their last four games due to hamstring tightness. When he had been on the court, he didn't look like his usual self.
Last season was arguably Williamson's best and healthiest of his career. He averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 57 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three and averaging 31.5 minutes.
Williamson has superstar talent, but injuries have kept him from reaching his potential. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was limited to 114 appearances through his first four seasons — missing the 2021-22 campaign altogether — and he finally seemed to be turning a corner health-wise.
Overall, Williamson has suffered from a torn meniscus, a fractured foot, a hamstring issue, a left foot contusion, and now another hamstring injury. Of the possible 400 games Williamson has played, he has only played in 190 of them, which comes out to 47 percent. He has not played in the playoffs.
Williamson's injury is the latest blow for a Pelicans team in the midst of an injury crisis. Trey Murphy III (hamstring) has not played yet, while Dejounte Murray (hand), Herb Jones (shoulder), CJ McCollum (adductor), and Jordan Hawkins (back) are all sidelined after being hurt earlier in the season.
These injuries have really hampered the Pelicans in a big way. Through 10 games this season, they sit with a 3-7 record, which is tied for the second-worst record in the tough Western Conference. They're already 2.5 games out of the final Play-In spot, and the Utah Jazz, who are openly tanking for Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
The Pelicans have their eye on a deep playoff run, but as this stands, they have a long way to go.
More news: Lakers' LeBron James Opens Up About Retirement After Triple-Double vs Raptors
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