Kristian Ferrell
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will not play again in the 2024-25 season due to a back injury. The 24-year-old has not played since suffering a low back bone bruise on March 19, and the Pelicans announced on March 31 that he would not feature again this season. Williamson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, playing just 114 games in his first four NBA seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of announcement that Williamson won't play for the rest of the 2024-25 season | March 31, 2025 |
| Reason for absence | Back injury/Low back bone bruise |
| Number of games missed due to injury | 5 |
| Average points scored by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 25.6 |
| Average rebounds by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 6.4 |
| Average assists by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 6.4 |
| Average steals by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 1.2 |
| Average blocks by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 1.0 |
| Average minutes per game by Williamson in his last 5 outings | 29.2 |
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What You'll Learn
Zion Williamson's injury history
Zion Williamson was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. However, his career has been plagued by injuries, weight-related issues, and character concerns. In the five years since being drafted, Williamson has only played in 214 games.
On January 8, 2025, Williamson returned from an injury, scoring 22 points in a loss to the Timberwolves. However, his season was cut short again on March 19, when he sustained a bone contusion in his lower back, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Despite his talent, Williamson's lack of availability has been a source of tension for the Pelicans.
During the 2024-25 season, Williamson showed improvement in his fitness, averaging 24.6 points per game, along with 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals, while shooting 56.7% from the floor. On December 12, 2024, he was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 8, his first NBA Player of the Week award.
Williamson's injury history, along with other factors, has led to uncertainty about his future with the Pelicans. Despite his undeniable talent, his lack of availability has prevented him from fulfilling the high expectations set for him when he entered the NBA.
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His return from a back injury
Zion Williamson's return to basketball from a back injury has been a long road. The New Orleans Pelicans star forward has been out since March 19, 2025, when he suffered a significant low back bone bruise that ended his season after just 30 games played.
The Pelicans announced that Williamson would not play again in the 2024-25 season and would continue to receive treatment and rest as part of his rehab plan. This was not the first time Williamson has had to sit out games due to injury; he missed all of the 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury, and in his career so far, he has only played 114 total games.
Despite this, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin remained positive about Williamson's future with the team, stating that he had "grown by leaps and bounds, both on the court and off" and that the "player he is now is better than he's ever been." When healthy, Williamson has impressed, averaging 23.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 53.6% from the field in 17 regular-season appearances.
There was speculation that Williamson may return for the Pelicans' game against the Clippers on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, as he was off the injury report and had been receiving return to competition reconditioning. However, this return did not materialise, and there has been no further update on his status as of April 1st, 2025.
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His career statistics
Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans basketball player, has been out for the 2024-25 season due to a back injury. He is known for his speed and leaping ability, despite his heavy weight for a basketball player.
Williamson's college basketball career statistics are as follows:
- 22.6 points per game
- 8.9 rebounds per game
- 2.1 assists per game
- 68.0% field goal percentage
- 33.8% three-point field goal percentage
- 64.0% free throw percentage
- 70.8% effective field goal percentage
- 40.8 player efficiency rating
- 8.3 win shares
In the NBA, Williamson has had several notable performances. On October 19, he put up 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and four steals in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. On December 2, he scored 30 points and matched his career highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. On December 9, he had a season-high 35 points, along with seven rebounds, four steals, and one block in a win against the Phoenix Suns. On January 8, 2025, he made his return from injury, scoring 22 points in just under 28 minutes. On February 27, he recorded his first career triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win over the Phoenix Suns.
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His college basketball career
The New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) have Zion Lateef Williamson on their team. Williamson was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, on July 6, 2000, and attended Spartanburg Day School, where he was a five-star recruit and ranked among the top five players in the 2018 class.
Williamson had a standout high school basketball career, drawing national attention for his slam dunks. He was named SCISA Region I-2A Player of the Year twice and, as a junior, was named National Junior of the Year by the high school sports website MaxPreps. In his senior season, Williamson averaged 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, leading his team to three straight state championships. He was recognised as South Carolina Mr. Basketball during this time.
Williamson's success continued into his freshman and only season with the Duke Blue Devils, where he was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Athlete of the Year, and ACC Rookie of the Year. He broke the school scoring record for freshmen in January 2019, was named ACC Rookie of the Week five times, and earned AP Player of the Year and Sporting News College Player of the Year recognition. Williamson also won the Wayman Tisdale Award.
After his impressive freshman year, Williamson was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
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The New Orleans Pelicans' performance without him
The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled in Zion Williamson's absence. In February 2023, the Pelicans were on a 10-game losing streak, during which they ranked last in offensive efficiency. They scored 105.8 points per 100 possessions, three points fewer than the next-closest team. Since Williamson injured his hamstring on January 2, 2023, the Pelicans have had a 7-16 record. They have adapted to life without Williamson by firing away from the mid-range, with Ingram and CJ McCollum ranking in the top 10 in mid-range field-goal attempts. However, both players have been less accurate than in the previous season.
The Pelicans have also relied on Jonas Valanciunas, who played a critical role in the team's qualification for the 2021-22 postseason. Valanciunas averaged 17.8 points per game on 54.4% shooting and was a force in the low post, helping New Orleans finish fourth in offensive rebounding rate. However, the Pelicans need to ensure they create more space for Ingram and McCollum, who rank first and second on the team in 3-point makes.
In the 2024-25 season, Williamson played only 30 games before being ruled out for the rest of the season due to a bone bruise in his back. Over his eight appearances before the injury, Williamson logged his first two career triple-doubles. Despite his limited appearances, Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with 1.2 steals in the games he played.
In summary, the New Orleans Pelicans have faced significant challenges in offensive efficiency and scoring during Zion Williamson's absence. While they have adapted their strategy to focus on mid-range shots and relied on key players like Ingram, McCollum, and Valanciunas, they have struggled to maintain a winning record and create enough space for their top scorers.
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Frequently asked questions
Zion Williamson last played on March 19, 2025, before suffering a bone contusion in his lower back.
Yes, the New Orleans Pelicans announced on March 31, 2025, that Williamson would not play for the remainder of the season due to a back injury.
It is unclear when Zion Williamson will return to basketball. His rehab plan involves treatment and rest, and the Pelicans have said they will continue to manage his availability.
Williamson has missed 36 games due to injury during the 2024-25 season. He also missed all of the 2021-22 season with a foot injury.
When healthy, Williamson has averaged 23.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 53.6% from the field.
