NBA Rumors: Zion Williamson Done For The Season

Not that New Orleans Pelicans fans weren't prepared for this eventuality, but now NBA Insider Shams Charania has simply put it out there bluntly: Zion Williamson is not expected to return this season.

Zion Williamson is not expected to return to the court this season as he continues to recover from foot surgery, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/LrnJkg42Cl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 21, 2022

"Sources said Zion Williamson is not expected to return to play this season," said Charania, "but that he is making progress toward on-court work." Well, that's a start.

Williamson hasn't played an NBA game in 322 days. He fractured a bone in his foot last summer, and dropped the news at Media Day in October at the opening of training camps. He's faced a number of hurdles during his recovery, and is still only doing stationary shooting, according to Charania, but is finally able to put weight on his foot.

The 21-year-old has been cleared to "gradually progress in basketball activities."

The Pelicans have only 11 games remaining in the regular season, not nearly enough time for Zion to ramp up to full 5-on-5 practice activities. They are currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 9th and 10th spots in the Western Conference, which would have them facing each other in a Play-In game. The winner would then have to win another Play-In in order to advance to the first round of the full playoffs.

Photo Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports