2 min read • December 11, 2021
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After news broke Saturday that Zion Williamson has been shut down by the Pelicans because of a regression in the bone healing of the Jones fracture in his right foot, expect the 3rd-year big man's season to be over.
It's bad enough news if there is no improvement of healing, but reports of a regression are worrisome. At this time, a second surgery to replace hardware and/or perform a bone graft may be done as well.
The nature of the Jones fracture is that as a stress fracture, it is inherently slow healing, and the timeline has been exacerbated by the 6-foot-6 big man's reported weight fluctuations, despite New Orleans' best efforts.
Williamson suffered the injury and subsequent surgery during the offseason, although it was kept under wraps by the organization until general manager David Griffin announced it on Sept. 27, although at the time he believed the team would get him back by the beginning of the season.
He was cleared for full basketball activities on Nov. 26, but his return was slowed only 7 days later when Williamson reported soreness in his right foot.
The Pelicans will soon have a decision to make, as the 21-year-old is up for a rookie-scale extension, similar to the 5-year, $172.5 million deal Michael Porter Jr. signed this offseason.
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