Pelicans star Zion Williamson underwent surgery on his right foot this offseason, executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters Monday (video link).
According to Griffin, Williamson fractured his foot while working out prior to Summer League (Twitter links via Andrew Lopez of ESPN). The former No. 1 overall pick broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
Griffin added that he doesn’t think it’s “terribly likely” that Williamson will play in preseason games but said the team has been working closely with him during his recovery and believes he’ll be ready for opening night next month.
While it’s a bit ominous that Williamson – who has dealt with leg injuries in the past – is on the mend again, and that the Pelicans waited until now to announce it, it may not have a major impact on the team if the prognosis presented by Griffin is accurate and Zion doesn’t miss time during the regular season.
Still, that’s a big “if,” and it’s probably safe to assume the Pelicans will be cautious with their franchise player. He may not play both games of back-to-back sets right away, for instance, or he may be eased back into action on a minutes limit. His recovery will be worth watching closely in the coming weeks.
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