New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger, the team announced on Friday.
Williamson underwent a CT scan on Thursday that revealed the injury. A treatment plan and timetable for his return will be determined after further evaluation.
Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin called the injury “avoidable,” saying Williamson was injured because because of the way he’s been officiated this season.
“He’s been absolutely mauled in the paint on a regular basis, to the point that other players have said to him, ‘I’m going to keep doing this to you because they don’t call it,'” Griffin told reporters in a Friday news conference. “There’s more violence encouraged in the paint against Zion Williamson than any played I’ve seen since Shaq.
“It was egregious and horrific then, and the same is true now.”
Griffin didn’t specify when the injury occurred, but Williamson appeared to hurt his finger while attempting to get a rebound in Tuesday’s win over the Golden State Warriors.
The Pelicans (30-36) entered Friday’s game against the 76ers two and a half games back of the Spurs for the last play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Williamson, 20, is averaging 27 points and 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season.
Source : ESPN
