Zion Williamson gives update on possible playoff return

There are few players in the NBA more exciting than Zion Williamson. There are also few players in the NBA more frustrating than Zion Williamson. Whether it’s because he can’t stay healthy, won’t take care of his body or just suffers from bad luck, the New Orleans Pelicans star provides only brief, tantalizing glimpses of his massive potential.

But he had his best season as a pro in 2023-24, playing in a career-high 70 games and averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 57 percent shooting. The Pelicans made the Western Conference play-in tournament with only one win standing between them and a spot in the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Then New Orleans lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in its first play-in game – and lost Zion to a hamstring injury. The Pelicans responded to beat the Sacramento Kings and earn the West’s No. 8 seed, but they lost their star at the worst possible time.

NOLA trails the Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0 in their first-round series with Game 2 scheduled for tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET. Williamson will miss his third straight game, but might there be some good news coming for Pelicans fans?

Zion Williamson says a postseason return is ‘definitely realistic’

New Orleans is set to re-evaluate Williamson’s hamstring later this week. The 23-year-old publicly addressed his injury for the first time yesterday as he continues to rehab with an eye on a 2024 playoff appearance. He admitted the injury was “super demoralizing” given the timing, but he sounds positive about the chances of a return during the Oklahoma City series, per ESPN:

(A return is) is definitely realistic. That is absolutely realistic. … I got to pass the tests and get back to baseline, and hopefully I’ll be out there.

The Pelicans lost 94-92 to the No. 1-seeded Thunder in Game 1 after C.J. McCollum missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer. Even a semi-healthy Zion may have helped New Orleans pull off an upset.

For now, he’ll have to sit back and watch Game 2 hoping his teammates can find a way to bring the series back home tied one apiece.

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