Two of the New Orleans Pelicans’ top players, forward Zion Williamson and guard CJ McCollum, will sit out the rest of the season.
The team announced it on Monday, but the Pelicans (21–54) had already been playing without the two. Williamson (back) and McCollum (foot) have been dealing with bone bruises, and both most recently sat out the Pelicans’ 98–94 victory on Sunday over the Charlotte Hornets.
Williamson injured his back on March 19 during a 119–115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pelicans stated that Williamson “will continue his recovery plan, which includes rest and treatment” for the injury.
McCollum’s injury occurred during a March 23 loss to the Detroit Pistons, 136–130. He “was diagnosed with a right foot bone contusion” and “will continue his rehabilitation program, which includes rest and treatment,” according to the Pelicans’ statement.
It’s a setback for the Pelicans, who have the fourth-worst record in the league. New Orleans could get a high pick in the draft lottery, but the ongoing injury issues with Williamson and now McCollum pose questions going into next season.
Once a No. 1 pick and generational prospect out of Duke, Williamson hasn’t been able to stay healthy throughout his career. He hasn’t played a full season yet, and his season-high of 70 points came in 2023–2024, the fifth year of his career.
Williamson has played in 214 career games in six seasons, and this latest injury marks the third time he has played 30 or fewer games and the second time in three years. He also missed the entire 2021–2022 season due to a Jones fracture in his foot.
This season, Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game—some of the best numbers of his career. Overall, Williamson has career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and a steal per game.
Williamson appeared in only 24 games as a rookie in 2019–2020 because of a meniscus tear, but he made All-Rookie honors with 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and former Miami Heat standout Kendrick Nunn.
New Orleans went 30–42 that year and made a slight improvement to 31–41 in year two with Williamson. He played in 61 games and made his first All-Star game with a career-high 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
The Jones fracture occurred during the offseason, and his recovery took the entire 2021–2022 season. New Orleans went 36–46 with him out of the lineup but made the playoffs.
Despite the injury history, the Pelicans invested in Williamson with a five-year rookie contract extension of up to $231 million.
It didn’t pay off for the Pelicans as he played only 29 games in 2022–2023 due to a lingering hamstring injury, but he averaged 26 points, seven rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. The Pelicans posted a winning season, 42–40, for the first time in six years.
Things looked even better in his 70-game season for 2023–2024 when the Pelicans went 49–33 and made the playoffs with him on the floor for the first time. However, he didn’t finish his first postseason game due to an injury late in the contest.
McCollum, who has dealt with his share of injuries during his 12-year career, has not finished a full season with the Pelicans yet since he joined the team in 2021. He averaged 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season.
New Orleans has been decimated by injuries overall this season, and that includes guard Trey Murphy III (labrum), who averaged 21.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Murphy sustained the injury during a game against the Pistons on March 17.
All three of the Pelicans’ top three scorers will miss the rest of the season.
