More bad news for Duke basketball great Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson's hamstring is hamstringing an otherwise positive campaign.
More bad news for Duke basketball great Zion Williamson
More bad news for Duke basketball great Zion Williamson /
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The New Orleans Pelicans, who were sitting pretty at 18-8 in mid-December, have lost 11 of their last 14 games. They sit only one game above .500 and No. 7 in the Western Conference standings. Injuries to the two Duke basketball talents in their preferred starting lineup, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, are to blame for recent woes.

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Although Ingram has been back for a few weeks after missing 29 straight games with a toe injury, Williamson has now missed 20 straight with a right hamstring injury and is likely to miss at least a dozen or so more.

Williamson, a voted-in starter for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game and at one point an MVP candidate, recently reaggravated his injury, New Orleans Pelicans basketball operations chief David Griffin told the media over the weekend.

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According to Griffin, the 6-foot-6, 285-pound forward and former No. 1 overall draft pick will be out "multiple weeks past All-Star break."

That update is particularly disappointing given the fact that Zion Williamson had recovered enough to participate in 3-on-3 practice drills with the expectation of returning soon after the All-Star break. Now, there's no telling how long he'll be out.

"Unfortunately, this is an injury that has a very high incidence of recurrence," Griffin noted. "It's nothing he did wrong to bring this about...It's an injury that's tricky and hard to navigate."

New Orleans is 6-14 since Williamson sustained the injury in early January. The 22-year-old, averaging 26.0 points and 7.0 rebounds across 29 appearances this season, has played only 114 games in his four-year NBA career.

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Matt Giles
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.