The New Orleans Pelicans suspended energy ahead Zion Williamson for Friday evening’s recreation in opposition to 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.
“There have been a number of events that led as much as this and that is how we bought to this resolution,” coach Willie Inexperienced stated forward of the 76ers‘ recreation.
Williamson has been sidelined by various injuries for more games than he has played since being drafted first total 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.
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The 24-year-old Williamson apologized in an announcement to staff proprietor Gayle Benson and the complete group for his habits.
“I take full duty for this suspension,” he stated. “I’ve labored extraordinarily laborious in rehab to get wholesome to ship for this staff. There isn’t any 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 might be higher as a teammate and member of this group.”
Williamson confirmed one other flash of his expertise with a monster dunk Tuesday against Minnesota.
Williamson symbolically introduced his return from a 27-game harm absence with a breakaway dunk in which he rotated 360 degrees 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 middle Rudy Gobert. After a couple of minutes on the court docket, he revved up the group with a soaring two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum’s lengthy alley-oop lob.
Williamson, although, was dominated out for the subsequent recreation in opposition to Portland for relaxation and can now miss two straight video games together with his absence in opposition to the Sixers.
The Pelicans play once more Sunday at Boston.
“This one-game suspension is a results of failing to satisfy our staff requirements. His dedication to this group is of paramount significance to us and to him,” Pelicans govt vice chairman David Griffin stated. “He has taken accountability for his actions and reaffirmed that dedication to the staff at present. I am 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 may s ideline him indefinitely.
Jones underwent an MRI on Thursday after leaving Wednesday night’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.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans
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