NEW ORLEANS — Pelicans fans have been here before.
After missing 27 games with a left hamstring strain, Zion Williamson returned to the court on Tuesday night and provided one of the few gratifying moments the New Orleans Pelicans could savor during an awful season.
Still, it was tough to overlook the feelings of déjà vu that hung in the air.
With all the injuries he’s dealt with in the past, “Zion’s long-awaited return” almost feels like an annual event at Smoothie King Center. Pelicans fans have grown familiar with all the steps that go into the process.
There’s the announcement that he’ll be available. Then, the videos of him going through pregame warmups. Then, the roar when he’s announced during starting lineup introductions. He’ll most likely have a slow start. Then, he’ll have those flashes of brilliance that remind everyone that Williamson is one of the best basketball players in the world when he’s healthy.
explosive. He was active. He played with force. He certainly didn’t look like someone who hadn’t played in two months. Seeing him that locked in – mentally and physically – was a major success for the Pelicans, even as the team’s record fell to 7-30.
But Pelicans fans have been here before.
They’ve gone through the cycles of bliss and disgust throughout Williamson’s career. They’ve seen him look dominant, and they’ve seen him look like he wasn’t ready for the moment.
With this season already in ruins, there’s only one thing that matters for New Orleans and its face of the franchise the rest of the way: keeping Williamson healthy. At this point, the performance and the production are secondary to making sure he’s there for the rest of the season, proving he can do what it takes to stay on the court.
“It’s extremely important,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Our medical team and performance, they’re working diligently, along with Zion and the whole
