Amid the New Orleans Pelicans’ early-season struggles, a familiar story has emerged: the absence of franchise player Zion Williamson. While Williamson is on the mend after his latest health setback, the team’s performance has cratered, leaving fans desperate for good news. The Pelicans’ latest announcement may offer a sliver of hope, but it also raises more questions about the team’s immediate future.
What Is the Latest on Zion Williamson’s Recovery?
The Pelicans announced that Williamson’s recovery is progressing as planned. In an official press release, the team stated, “Zion Williamson, who was diagnosed with a grade 1 left hamstring strain on November 4, continues to progress well through his rehabilitation and has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities with contact.” This development clears a significant hurdle for his return to the court.
Pelicans announce that Zion Williamson, who was diagnosed with a grade 1 left hamstring strain on November 4, continues to progress well through his rehabilitation and has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities with contact.
His return to play progression will be… pic.twitter.com/yJwpoXI1q3
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 13, 2025
However, that positive step comes against a bleak backdrop. The Pelicans currently hold the worst record in the Western Conference at 2-9 and are riding a three-game losing streak. In the five games he played this season, Williamson has averaged 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per contest. Despite his solid individual numbers, the team is 0-5 when he plays, and his plus/minus rating sits at a discouraging -5.6.
This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. As the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson was projected to be a perennial MVP candidate by this point in his career. The Pelicans were expected to be one of the West’s rising powers, but the reality has been far different. The franchise has yet to win a playoff series during Williamson’s tenure, and there have been more headlines about him potentially leaving New Orleans than there have been discussions about him in the MVP race.
A two-time All-Star, Williamson has been incredibly productive when available, but his inability to stay on the court has caused his stock to drop around the league. If his return fails to lift the Pelicans out of the conference’s bottom tier, it raises a critical question: will new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars look to make major changes at the trade deadline?
The euro at 34 seconds is simply outrageous from Derik Queen pic.twitter.com/3ZsWVS54qr
— “will je suis” (@psa2rpa) November 13, 2025
Another factor complicating the Pelicans‘ poor start is the absence of former All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray, who suffered a torn right Achilles tendon this past January. Dumars may want to see the roster at full strength before making any rash decisions. However, if Williamson can string together a healthy 25 to 30-game stretch, the team will almost certainly receive calls about his availability before the deadline.
For now, the Pelicans and their fans can only hope that Williamson returns to the court soon and provides the spark needed to build a much-needed winning streak.
