Pels shut down Zion, McCollum for rest of season

The New Orleans Pelicans announced Monday that forward Zion Williamson and guard CJ McCollum willl miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to their respective injuries.

The announcement came a day after the Pelicans defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94 without Williamson (back bone contusion) and McCollum (right foot bone contusion) in the lineup.

Williamson's latest setback ensures the former No. 1 overall pick will play 30 games or fewer for the fourth time in six years. The 24-year old suffered the lower back injury during a fall on March 19 at Minnesota and sat out of New Orleans' next five games. Over his eight appearances prior to the injury, Williamson had logged his first two career triple-doubles.

New Orleans announced that Williamson's rehabilitation plan will consist of rest and treatment.

Among the players making their debuts since 1997-98, Williamson ranks as the only one to average 15 points or more in the paint while shooting at least 55% from the field in each of the first five seasons he played, according to ESPN Research. But over Williamson's five seasons, he's missed more games (258) than he's played (214).

The two-time All-Star finishes the season averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists with 1.2 steals.

McCollum, meanwhile, suffered his injury on March 23 at Detroit during a 40-point performance that resulted in a Pelicans loss. Like Williamson, the guard will follow a rehab program that consists of treatment and rest, according to the team.

None of the three current Pelicans that averaged 20 points per game or more were able finish the season with the club. That list includes Williamson, Trey Murphy III (torn labrum) and McCollum.

New Orleans (21-54) currently owns the fourth-worst record in the NBA and has utilized 41 different starting lineups in 2024-25 due to a slew of season-ending injuries to key players such as Williamson, McCollum, Murphy, Dejounte Murray and Herbert Jones.