New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson reacts to an official’s name within the first half of an NBA basketball recreation towards the Minnesota Timberwolves in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Picture/Gerald Herbert)
PHILADELPHIA — The New Orleans Pelicans suspended energy ahead Zion Williamson for Friday night time’s recreation towards Philadelphia for a violation of staff insurance policies.
Williamson has been tardy this season to a number of Pelicans practices or flights, which led to the one-game ban.
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“There have been a number of events that led as much as this and that’s how we acquired to this resolution,” coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned forward of the 76ers’ recreation.
READ: NBA: Zion Williamson scores 22 in return, Pelicans fall to Wolves
Williamson has been sidelined by varied accidents for extra video games than he has performed since being drafted first general out of Duke in 2019. He has appeared in simply seven of New Orleans’ 38 video games this season. The Pelicans have gone 2-5 in these video games, and 5-26 with out him.
The 24-year-old Williamson apologized in an announcement to staff proprietor Gayle Benson and your complete group for his habits.
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“I take full accountability for this suspension,” he mentioned. “I’ve labored extraordinarily arduous in rehab to get wholesome to ship for this staff. There isn’t a excuse for being late to staff actions. I’ve apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I additionally owe an apology to the followers. I can and will likely be higher as a teammate and member of this group.”
Williamson confirmed one other flash of his expertise with a monster dunk Tuesday towards Minnesota.
Williamson symbolically introduced his return from a 27-game harm absence with a breakaway dunk wherein he rotated 360 levels within the air whereas throwing down a crowd-pleasing, double-clutch, roundhouse jam.
Williamson additionally had six rebounds, 4 assists, three steals and a block on Wolves heart Rudy Gobert. After a couple of minutes on the court docket, he revved up the gang with a hovering two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum’s lengthy alley-oop lob.
READ: NBA: Zion Williamson, Pelicans purpose for first playoff success
Williamson, although, was dominated out for the subsequent recreation towards Portland for relaxation and can now miss two straight video games together with his absence towards the Sixers.
The Pelicans play once more Sunday at Boston.
“This one-game suspension is a results of failing to fulfill our staff requirements. His dedication to this group is of paramount significance to us and to him,” Pelicans government vice chairman David Griffin mentioned. “He has taken accountability for his actions and reaffirmed that dedication to the staff right this moment. I’m assured he’ll proceed to evolve positively on and off the ground.”
The Pelicans additionally will play Friday with out ahead and prime defensive participant Herb Jones. Jones has a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder that can s ideline him indefinitely.
Jones underwent an MRI on Thursday after leaving Wednesday night time’s loss to Portland.
Jones additionally missed 18 video games earlier this season due to an harm in the identical shoulder earlier than returning on Dec. 5 and beginning 16 consecutive video games.
Jones has performed in 20 of New Orleans’ 38 video games this season, averaging 10.3 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 32.4 minutes per recreation.
