Duke Basketball Pelicans: Zion Williamson Sits, Brandon Ingram Soars

The Duke basketball duo in New Orleans aims to stay healthy and build on the franchise's 49-33 record last season.

Matt Giles | Oct 24, 2024

Former Duke basketball forward Brandon Ingram / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

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Zion Williamson entered the 2024-25 NBA regular season with a career scoring average of 24.7 points per outing but with 206 missed games to his name. He added a 207th on Wednesday night, as the 24-year-old Duke basketball one-and-done and 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick sat out the New Orleans Pelicans' season-opening 123-111 win over the visiting Chicago Bulls.

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Pelicans head coach Willie Green informed the media that Williamson, who has battled countless injuries and setbacks since his memorable thrill-a-minute college campaign in Durham, has "just some type of virus" and "has been sick the last couple days."

Perhaps he'll be back to full strength in time for the Pelicans' road bout against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET Friday.

As for New Orleans' other NBA Blue Devil, 2016-17 one-and-done forward and No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram shined to the tune of a game-high 33 points, shooting 13-for-23 from the field, 3-for-5 from downtown, and 4-for-4 at the line. The 27-year-old from Kinston, N.C., added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block across his 31 minutes as a starter.

The Bulls employ one Duke basketball talent in 2020-21 one-and-done guard DJ Steward. However, the 23-year-old Chicago native is on a two-way contract and not currently on the squad's regular season roster.

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Published Oct 24, 2024

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.