(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
After a season that showed a lot of promise and power, the New Orleans Pelicans are once again out of the playoffs.
They faced tough competition with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but there is no doubt that the team’s failure to make an impact in the postseason also has to do with the loss of Zion Williamson.
SportsCenter pointed out a troubling fact about Williamson: he is the only 2019 lottery selection to not appear in a playoff game during his career.
It’s been a struggle for Zion in terms of postseason playing time. pic.twitter.com/qI2r3tu6Dp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 30, 2024
Williamson came painfully close to being in the playoffs this year.
Sadly, he injured himself during the Play-In Tournament and has been out ever since with a hamstring problem.
Fans of the Pelicans were once again heartbroken to see Williamson come close, but not close enough, especially after the season he had.
In 2023-24, Williamson averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 57% from the field.
After years of missing so many games, Williamson was back in fine form and helping his team perform well.
But it all came crashing down in an instant when he hurt his hamstring.
Injuries have been bothering the former number one draft pick since the start of his career.
In fact, this was the first season that he played more than 61 games.
At just 23 years old, Williamson is still a young man who could spend a lot longer in the league but he can’t seem to stay healthy.
The Pelicans will need to consider this because they may not want to hang onto Williamson forever if he can’t remain reliable.
This year’s injury was worse than the rest for a number of reasons, mostly because Williamson had been doing so well before it.
Will next year break this pattern and will Williamson finally reach the postseason?
The post Zion Williamson Has A Concerning Trend Since Being Drafted In 2019 appeared first on The Cold Wire.