New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) celebrates a basket with teammate C.J. McCollum during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Darren Abate
Zion Williamson’s season is over.
So is CJ McCollum’s.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced Monday evening that they are shutting down their top two best remaining players for the remainder of the season.
Williamson suffered a low back bone contusion when he fell during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 19.
McCollum was diagnosed with a right foot bone contusion after sustaining the injury against the Detroit Pistons on March 23.
Neither player has played since the injuries. Pelicans' coach Willie Green was asked last week if Williamson would possibly be shut down for the rest of the season.
“Not my call,” Green said. “That will be something that he decides or the organization decides collaboratively."
The Pelicans (20-55) have just seven games remaining, starting with a trip to Los Angeles this week to play the Clippers on Wednesday and the Lakers on Friday.
Williamson played in just 30 games this season. He averaged 24.6 points per game. He tied his career high average in rebounds with 7.2 and set a new career-high in assists (5.3). Williamson’s season included the first two triple doubles of his career in wins over the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers.
McCollum, meanwhile, played in 56 games. He averaged 21.1 points and 4.1 assists. His season included a 50-point game against the Washington Wizards and three more games with 40 or more points.
The Pelicans now have five players who are out for the remainder of the season. Herb Jones suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in January. Later that month, Dejounte Murray tore his Achilles against the Boston Celtics. And on March 17, Trey Murphy’s season came to andend with a shoulder injury. All three of those players have undergone surgery for their injuries. The quintet of Williamson, McCollum, Murphy, Jones and Murray will miss a total of 196 games this season.
The Pelicans used their 42nd different starting lineup of the season in Sunday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. Pelicans’ assistant coach James Borrego filled in for Willie Green, who missed the game due to personal reasons.
“I’m not sure I’ve been a part of a season like this before,” Borrego said about the injuries. “In totality, I have not seen this. You go through stretches in a season where you’re injured. Every team does. But to see it start to finish, I’ve never seen anything like this before.”