As for Williamson, this morning, the New Orleans Pelicans made it officially official with the shutdown. He will miss the remainder of the season with a lower back injury. Williamson suffered a significant injury sabbatical on March 19 while playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He landed awkwardly and hurt his back, sustaining a bone contusion.
Williamson, a former No. 1 overall pick and two-time All-Star, has had a tumultuous career already, plagued by injuries. In his five seasons in the NBA, his games played have been less than the games missed. This recent injury would have dropped him to having played 30 games or less in four of six seasons. Even with his little-known stature, he’s accomplished something quite remarkable. He is tied as the only player in league history to average 15+ points per game in the paint while shooting 55%+ FG in each of his first five seasons.
The setback comes just a day after the Pelicans notched a narrow victory against fellow playoff hopefuls the Charlotte Hornets. They have been successful without him in the lineup, topping the Hawks 98-94. After being diagnosed with a back bone bruise, Williamson was held out of the next five games, adding more turbulence to his season.
In his eight appearances prior to the injury, Williamson logged his first two career triple-doubles, showcasing his potential and skill on the court. He finished the season with stellar averages of 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. With the season now over for him, he’ll turn his attention to a rehabilitation program. This program combines periods of rest with treatment to address his lingering health issues.
Williamson will be one of three current Pelicans who averaged more than 20 points per game this season. None of these guys will be around by season’s end with the organization. His talent, combined with strong performances behind him in the past, makes people hopeful within the organization and with fans alike. They can’t wait for his return to full strength next season.
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