New Orleans Pelicans update Zion Williamson injury recovery

New Orleans Pelicans fans will have to wait a little while longer to see Zion Williamson on the court. The team released an update on his recovery from his foot injury on Thursday.

Williamson received an injection in his foot to promote healing and will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks, the Pelicans announced.

Zion Williamson Medical Update:

Following a consultation and further evaluation with Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute yesterday, Zion Williamson received a biologic injection into the fracture site to stimulate bone healing in his right foot. pic.twitter.com/sSD0rBq5yK

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 16, 2021

Williamson hasn’t played at all this season after suffering a broken foot over the summer. He had quite a start to his NBA career, though, averaging 25.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per games in his first two years in the league.

This isn’t the first setback Williamson has suffered. New Orleans recently made the decision to shut him down as he works to recover. The new timeline puts his re-evaluation in mid-January — right around the halfway point of the season.

The Pelicans drafted Williamson No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft after an amazing year at Duke. While playing for Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils, he averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for game en route to national college player of the year honors in 2019.

New Orleans is having a rough to this year, going 9-21 through the first 30 games. The Pelicans are coming off a thrilling victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night when Devonte’ Graham hit a three-quarter-court shot at the buzzer to win the game.

Next up for New Orleans is a date with the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Kenny Smith offers blunt solution for Zion Williamson, weight problem

Due to various ailments, Williamson played just 85 games in his first two NBA seasons combined. The first-overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has been effective when healthy, averaging 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, but he’s still recovering from offseason surgery to repair a fractured left foot. Though injuries are commonplace in the NBA, or any professional sports league for that matter, Williamson’s injuries have given way to speculation regarding his stature and physical shape. Many wondered whether he had gained weight in the offseason; the 6-foot-6 forward is currently listed at 284 pounds.

Two-time NBA champion-turned-analyst Kenny Smith offered a blunt solution to Williamson’s weight problem on Monday, explaining to TMZ Sports how the third-year player could end this narrative once and for all.

“Every player in their career, they’re going to get hurt at some point if you have a long career. And in that time, you’ve got to figure out how to stay in shape and stay into a basketball body,” Smith said. “I know he wants to play. He’ll figure out how to eat less. It’s not hard. It’s not hard when it’s your profession. He puts the hours in to become a great basketball player, he’ll figure out those hours that he needs to keep his body right. It’s the same thing. It’s the same commitment, it’s not hard. Just eat less.”