Since the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick of the 2019 draft, a specific narrative has followed him. While his scoring ability remains unquestioned, concerns about his availability continue to linger. The former All-Star power forward discussed the current state of his game readiness.
Zion Williamson Announces Status for New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Lakers
Williamson is often viewed as an injury-prone superstar. A recent ankle injury reinforced that perception. He suffered the injury in a 10-point win over the Utah Jazz on Friday. After playing 35 consecutive games for the first time in his career, he missed the following contest. Ahead of a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, the forward addressed his playing status for Tuesday’s game.
“I expect to be back tomorrow against the Lakers,” he said on “NBA Today.”
“I expect to be back tomorrow against the Lakers”
— Zion Williamson on his return to play pic.twitter.com/HsNkwmeONl
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) March 2, 2026
Williamson missed Sunday’s game, a 137-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Before that, he had not missed a contest since Dec. 11. In that 35-game span, the Pelicans went 14-21. New Orleans now enters Tuesday’s contest aiming to begin another winning streak.
Currently, the Pelicans sit 13 games out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. While the team’s playoff outlook appears bleak, a closer look at Williamson’s supporting cast offers hope for the future.
Small forward Trey Murphy III leads the team with 22 points per game, and his efficiency stands out. The former first-round pick shoots 47.5% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range. Leading the team in minutes played (35.5), he maintains a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Rookie center Derik Queen has also impressed, averaging 13 points and 7.3 rebounds while contributing 3.9 assists, giving New Orleans an interior playmaking option.
Jeremiah Fears, another member of the Pelicans’ 2025 draft class, has started games at point guard. Analysts believe that he, Queen, Murphy, and Williamson can form a nucleus capable of moving the franchise forward. The team has not reached the playoffs since the 2023-24 season.
New Orleans will need to continue building around Williamson through free agency or trades. The Pelicans do not have a first-round pick this season, but they have their core under contract. Additionally, the expiring deals of veterans Kevon Looney and DeAndre Jordan will free more than $11 million.
Does Williamson’s recent durability change the perception of his critics? The numbers suggest otherwise. He has played in 259 games but missed 296. Williamson is in the third year of a five-year contract, with New Orleans still owing him more than $80 million over the next two seasons.
The trip to Los Angeles begins a three-game road swing, followed by contests against the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. Williamson has averaged at least 24.5 points in 34 combined games against those opponents. Tuesday’s game could mark the start of another streak for the forward.
