Pelicans Release New Major Herb Jones Injury Update

Over the last couple of NBA seasons, the New Orleans Pelicans have had high expectations, but they haven’t been able to meet them, mainly because of injuries.

Brandon Ingram has missed three games with a knee ailment this season, rising forward Trey Murphy III will be out for a few months with a knee injury of his own and star guard CJ McCollum suffered a horrific lung condition recently. Of course, Zion Williamson, their franchise centerpiece, has been unable to stay healthy since coming into the NBA in the 2019-20 season.

Now, New Orleans has another injury concern to add to its list. Forward Herbert Jones has a right fibula contusion and is thus listed as questionable for its game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

Jones, a 6-foot-8 forward, is averaging 10.0 points a game this season, and he is leading the Pelicans with 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. A second-round draft pick in 2021, he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team two seasons ago.

When healthy, the Pelicans certainly have plenty of talent and depth. They may not have a true point guard or floor general, but they can score, and they can get out and run with just about any other team in the NBA. However, they’re only 22nd right now in scoring at just 109.3 points per game, as their continued injury woes have clearly hurt their prospects.

At one point early last season, New Orleans actually had the best record in the Western Conference. But then Williamson suffered a hamstring injury in January that didn’t heal or respond to treatment as expected, and it turned out to be an ailment that prematurely ended his season.

To start this year, the former Duke University Blue Devil is averaging 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists a game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field.