Pelicans droop Zion Williamson for 1 recreation because of repeated tardiness

The New Orleans Pelicans suspended energy ahead Zion Williamson for Friday night time’s recreation in opposition to Philadelphia for a violation of workforce insurance policies.

Williamson has been tardy this season to a number of Pelicans practices or flights, which led to the one-game ban.

“There have been a number of events that led as much as this and that is how we obtained to this resolution,” coach Willie Inexperienced stated forward of the 76ers‘ recreation.

Williamson has been sidelined by numerous accidents for extra video games than he has performed since being drafted first general out of Duke in 2019. He has appeared in simply seven of New Orleans’ 38 video games this season. The Pelicans have gone 2-5 in these video games, and 5-26 with out him.

The 24-year-old Williamson apologized in an announcement to workforce proprietor Gayle Benson and all the group for his conduct.

“I take full duty for this suspension,” he stated. “I’ve labored extraordinarily exhausting in rehab to get wholesome to ship for this workforce. There is no such thing as a excuse for being late to workforce actions. I’ve apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I additionally owe an apology to the followers. I can and can be higher as a teammate and member of this group.”

Williamson confirmed one other flash of his expertise with a monster dunk Tuesday in opposition to Minnesota.

Williamson symbolically introduced his return from a 27-game damage absence with a breakaway dunk wherein he rotated 360 levels within the air whereas throwing down a crowd-pleasing, double-clutch, roundhouse 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 courtroom, he revved up the gang with a hovering two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum’s lengthy alley-oop lob.

Williamson, although, was dominated out for the following recreation in opposition to Portland for relaxation and can now miss two straight video games together with his absence in opposition to the Sixers.

The Pelicans play once more Sunday at Boston.

“This one-game suspension is a results of failing to satisfy our workforce requirements. His dedication to this group is of paramount significance to us and to him,” Pelicans govt vp David Griffin stated. “He has taken accountability for his actions and reaffirmed that dedication to the workforce right this moment. I am assured he’ll proceed to evolve positively on and off the ground.”

The Pelicans additionally will play Friday with out ahead and prime defensive participant Herb Jones. Jones has a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder that may s ideline him indefinitely.

Jones underwent an MRI on Thursday after leaving Wednesday night time’s loss to Portland.

Jones additionally missed 18 video games earlier this season due to an damage in the identical shoulder earlier than returning on Dec. 5 and beginning 16 consecutive video games.

Jones has 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 recreation.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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