Zion Williamson is back like he never left.
After missing 27 consecutive games due to a left hamstring strain, the New Orleans Pelicans star delivered in his return to play on Tuesday night, pouring 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block to carry the Pels’ 104-97 losing effort against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
As he was presented during the team introduction, Williamson obtained overwhelming cheers from the Smoothie King Center crowd. And after just three quarters, the franchise sensation stamped his comeback to the hardwood by flushing a jaw-dropping 360-degree windmill jam off an alley-oop pass from co-star Dejounte Murray.
Much better from the past
Hamstring strain has been a massive obstacle for Williamson not just this season.
It all started in the 2022-23 season when he missed the Pels’ final 45 games, limiting his upward progress as he was selected for his second All-Star nod during that year. And just last season, his career-high 70 games played was marred by hamstring issues yet again upon sustaining it during New Orleans’ play-in duel against the Los Angeles Lakers, eventually missing when it mattered the most as the Pelicans got eliminated in the playoffs as an eighth seed.
Hamstring strain has occupied a major chunk of Williamson’s inactivity since being drafted as the top overall pick of the 2019 Draft by the Pelicans as the phenom only played 190 games over 5 ½ seasons.
But from the way he moved, operated, and slammed multiple dunks throughout the game, it appears that Williamson is now all geared up to play again. And in this situation unlike in the past, he intends to actively keep his approach and attack.
“I definitely feel like my legs are already under me,” he said in the post game. “Now its just in-game rhythm. Dont got time to take 3-5 games for that. Just gonna figure it out as quick as possible”
Control what you can control
Since Williamson got shelved from his hamstring injury recovery, many things have already occurred concerning his future in the Big Easy.
There were rumblings surrounding his partnership with the Pels. As the team struggled this season due to his unavailability and other massive injuries across their roster, trade talks ignited. As such, New Orleans’ blurry contract situation with Brandon Ingram just further added fuel to the fire of speculations.
As questions will certainly continue to emerge with him and the Pelicans sitting as NBA’s worst team with a 7-30 card, Williamson will just continue to maintain his rigor and help with whatever way he can for NOLA.
“At the end of the day, control the things you can control and accept the things you can. As a professional, the only thing I can do is come in to work everyday, work hard, and have fun. At the end of the day, I get to play basketball for a living. I love hooping,” he said.
“Me and Dejounte talk about it alot, not taking this for granted. Just have fun and work hard.”
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