Zion Williamson’s absence due to injury is devastating for the Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans were dealt devastating news on Friday with the report that Zion Williamson will be out indefinitely with a fractured ring finger.

Williamson has had a revelatory season where he’s been able to deliver on much of the promise that made him the overwhelming pick to go No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA draft. In just his second season, he’s averaging 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor.

Zion Williamson has reportedly suffered a fractured finger and will be out indefinitely for the Pelicans. This injury comes at a devastating time.

He’s swiftly grown into a centrifugal force for his team on the offensive end. Zion has a ways to go on the defensive end, but the offense more than makes up for it.

This news comes at the worst time possible as the Pelicans are making a push to get into the NBA’s play-in tournament and have legitimate hopes of making the playoffs. The Pelicans are 30-36 and sit in 11th place, just 1.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final play-in spot.

The Pelicans are just 5-5 in their last 10 games, but the Spurs are in freefall, having lost five straight games. The door has been opened for them, but once again this franchise seems to be snakebitten with Zion Williamson’s injury.

Last season Brandon Ingram came to the forefront as a young star for this team, and now it’s going to be incumbent upon him to carry the Pelicans once again. We’ll get the opportunity to see if he can do it when all the pressure rests on his shoulders.