New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was out on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Williamson was ruled out due to a sprained ankle he sustained on Saturday against the Utah Jazz. Fortunately for fans, it won't be long until the star forward is back in the lineup.
His absence against the Clippers ended his career-high of playing 35 consecutive games. Williamson has tried his best to stay healthy this season and has played in 45 games. Health and availability have always been issues for the star forward, but things have been trending on a positive note in the 2025-26 NBA season.
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Ahead of the Pelicans' fourth game of the season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Williamson gave an update on his availability. The two-time All-Star had an interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews on Monday, and he was asked about when fans will expect him to return.
"I expect to be back tomorrow against the Lakers," Williamson said.
The Pelicans have also upgraded Williamson in their latest injury report to questionable. The team's standout player is eager to return to action after missing just one game. The former Duke star is asignificant part of the team's offense. The 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Zion Williamson Addresses His Availability Issues
Since he started his NBA career in 2019, Williamson has been marred with injuries. In his rookie season, he was limited to 24 games. He followed that up with a 61-game sophomore season and became an All-Star for the first time.
However, Williamson did not play a game in his third year after he suffered a broken foot. During the 2022-23 season, he earned his second All-Star selection, but only played 29 games. He came back strong the following year and played 70 games, the most in his young career.
But he's had an underwhelming 30-game campaign during the 2024-25 season. This year, Williamson wants to silence the critics and be available as much as possible.
The ESPN anchor mentioned in his chat with Andrews that head coach James Borrego believes Williamson is showing a new degree of concern this year.
“I did look in the mirror. It was 'Am I doing what I need to do to stay on the court?' Even if I felt like I was doing enough, there was more I could be doing. My Trainer Kris is always putting me on game to different things and recovery methods,” Williamson said.
The Pelicans star claimed that his efforts with his trainer have paid off. His availability has been a significant thing for New Orleans.