Zion Williamson addressed reporters Tuesday afternoon, providing an optimistic update on his hamstring injury rehabilitation. When asked about the possibility of a postseason return, the star forward expressed a ‘realistic’ chance.
‘That is definitely realistic,’ he stated. ‘That is absolutely realistic. But like I said, I got to pass the tests and get back to baseline, and hopefully I’ll be out there.’
The Pelicans are currently battling the top-seeded Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, with the series potentially extending through Sunday, May 5. Williamson suffered the hamstring strain during New Orleans’ Play-In Tournament opener against the Spurs on April 16.
Despite the setback, Williamson emphasized his determination to return to action. ‘Super demoralizing at first, can’t lie,’ Williamson said. ‘The season had been going so well, so for that to happen, it definitely was demoralizing. But I took a day or two to get past that, and now I’m back on what I’ve been saying all year, stacking my days and getting back on the court.’
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft also noted that the severity of his current injury is less severe compared to the one that limited him to just 29 games last season.
‘That was definitely one of those kind of bittersweet moments,’ Williamson said. ‘At least it’s not like [last year]. So just build off of that.’
Williamson’s potential return would provide a major boost to the Pelicans, who narrowly missed out on a Game 1 victory against the Thunder. The team’s playoff hopes could receive a significant boost if Williamson is able to make a successful recovery and return to the lineup.
