The New Orleans Pelicans have suspended ahead Zion Williamson for Friday night time’s sport in opposition to Philadelphia for a violation of workforce coverage.
Williamson has been late to a number of Pelicans practices or flights this season, resulting in a one-game suspension.
“There have been a number of alternatives that led to this and that is how we arrived at this resolution,” coach Willie Green stated earlier than the 76ers sport.
Williamson he was sidelined due to various injuries for more games than he played since being drafted first total by Duke in 2019. He has appeared in simply seven of New Orleans’ 38 video games this season. The Pelicans went 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 workforce proprietor Gayle Benson and the whole group for his habits.
“I take full accountability for this suspension,” he stated. “I’ve labored very arduous in rehab to get wholesome and provides my all for this workforce. There isn’t any excuse for being late to workforce actions. I’ve apologized to Mrs. Benson, my teammates and coaches and I need to additionally apologize to the followers. I can and will likely be higher as a teammate and member of this group.”
Williamson confirmed one other flash of his expertise with a monster dunk on Tuesday in opposition to Minnesota.
Williamson symbolically introduced his return after a 27-game damage absence with a breakaway dunk in which he rotated 360 degrees into the air as he drops a crowd-pleasing double-clutch circle jam.
Williamson additionally had six rebounds, 4 assists, three steals and a block on Wolves heart Rudy Gobert. After a couple of minutes on the pitch, he revved up the group a dizzying two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum’s lengthy alley-oop lob.
Williamson, nevertheless, was dominated out for the following sport in opposition to Portland for relaxation and can now miss two consecutive video games as a consequence of his absence in opposition to the Sixers.
The Pelicans play once more Sunday at Boston.
“This one-game suspension is the results of our workforce’s failure to satisfy requirements. His dedication to this group is critically essential to us and to him,” Pelicans Executive Vice President David Griffin stated. “He has taken accountability for his actions and at the moment reaffirmed his dedication to the workforce. I’m assured that he’ll proceed to evolve positively on and off the pitch.”
The Pelicans may also play Friday with out ahead and prime defenseman Herb Jones. Jones has a tear to the posterior labrum of his proper shoulder that may s idealize it indefinitely.
Jones underwent an MRI on Thursday after the beginning Wednesday night’s loss to Portland.
Jones additionally missed 18 video games earlier this season as a consequence of an damage to the identical shoulder earlier than returning on Dec. 5 and beginning 16 straight video games.
Jones 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 sport.
Associated Press reporting.
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Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans
National Basketball Association
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