NBANew Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson Has ‘Realistic Expectations’ He’ll Return This Postseason

Apr 2, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dribbles the ball up the court during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Zion Williamson might be appearing in future postseason games. However, it’s still unsure if he will be in the New Orleans Pelicans‘ match against the Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow.

Zion Williamson Thinks He’ll Come Back

Fret not, Pelicans fans. The two-time All-Star is trying to work around this injury. Moreover, there are “realistic” expectations that he’ll return for the postseason games.

Andrew Lopez details the forward’s feelings toward this frustrating development. The 23-year-old is trying to stay optimistic in the face of a possible postseason-ending injury. Instead, he talks about how he still might return. Meanwhile, he thinks the situation is bittersweet, which initially seems confusing.

To add more context on why it’s bittersweet for the player, he’s at least grateful that it’s not as bad as his hamstring injury last year. The first instance of this problem showed up on Jan. 2, 2023. That forced him to miss the remaining 45 games of last season. In his eyes, at least this injury might not be as lengthy.

It should go without saying that the superstar is still trying to test his limits safely. This would help him dip his toe in the water without possibly worsening the injury.

Ultimately, it’s still complex to grapple with as the superstar talks about how disappointing it felt when he was injured. Indeed, his season was going so well, especially when you compare the 70 games he played this year to last year’s 29.

The Pelicans Might Be In Trouble

The 23-year-old is one of the team’s best tools against Oklahoma. The team will miss his offensive power on the court, especially against their matchup. They’re already one game down as the Thunder lead the series 0-1. At the very least, the former held their own against the West’s first seed.

Apr 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard D'Angelo Russell (1) during the second half of a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe Williamson would’ve been the winning factor during that game.

Do you think the forward will be able to return this postseason, or will it be too late?