NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 09: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball ... More during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on December 09, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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Zion Williamson will appear in 30 games or fewer for the fourth time in his six-year career. NBA insider Chris Haynes reports [Williamson will miss the remainder of the season](https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1906853456905908707) due to a back-bone contusion. The New Orleans Pelicans have also shut down guard CJ McCollum because of a foot contusion.
Unfortunately, the 2024-25 campaign was par for the course for Williamson. His unique body type is as rare as his captivating blend of power and athleticism. It translated to showcasing the talent that makes him capable of being a franchise player. The former first-overall draft pick averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and nearly a block per game.
However, injuries, primarily, again limited his ability to remain in the Pelicans' lineup. Williamson only took the floor 30 times this season. What's particularly cruel about that reality is that after years of dealing with questions about his weight, the former Duke Blue Devil star played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24.
On [ESPN's "Hoop Collective" podcast](https://www.espn.com/espnradio/newyork/podcast/archive/_/id/3634017), Brian Windhorst shared that people in New Orleans told him Williamson had shed significant weight after the Pelicans lost by 44 in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament since rebranded as the NBA Cup.
"The Pelicans are playing great, and I got people in New Orleans telling me that since December, when the In-Season Tournament happened, that Zion Williamson has lost 25 or more pounds," conveyed Windhorst.
The two-time All-Star helped lead his team to the play-in tournament. He shined on that stage, generating 40 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. At times, the purple and gold looked helpless while trying to keep him from the basket.
Unfortunately, a left leg injury forced him to leave the contest shortly after he made a game-tying layup with 3:19 remaining. New Orleans bounced back after losing to the Lakers that night, beating the Sacramento Kings to reach the playoffs. However, Williamson's season was over. His injury forced him into the role of spectator as the Pelicans got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite the work that he put in to change his frame and lose significant weight, Williamson didn't get much of an opportunity to build off what he accomplished last year.
The back-bone contusion that prematurely ended his 2024-25 campaign after 30 games stemmed from a fall during a Mar. 19 road win vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williamson produced 29 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 30:16 in the victory.
He and McCollum having their seasons end early highlights an injury-ravaged year that has turned New Orleans from a playoff-caliber team to one that is 21-54. That's the second-worst record in the Western Conference. It's the fourth-worst mark in the NBA.
On the plus side, perhaps the reward for this nightmare campaign is a top draft pick. Maybe the Pelicans are so fortunate as to land a prized prospect like the presumed No. 1 overall selection, Cooper Flagg. The six-foot-nine forward has led Duke, Williamson's alma mater, to the NCAA men's basketball tournament's final four.
The question is whether they'd get to play together if that happened. Williamson's struggles with durability have led to trade rumors. He turns 25 in July and is under contract for three years after this season. Those could get argued as reasons for the franchise that drafted him to continue working with Williamson or why they should try to seek as much as possible in a trade for him this summer.
Whatever his NBA future holds, hopefully, it includes better fortune on the health front, especially after putting in the work to make it easier for his body to support the superstar talent he possesses.