Zion Williamson Breaks Silence On Injury, Playoff Status

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson says he feels fine physically but still isn’t ready to return to the court.

Williamson, who has been out since January 2 with a right hamstring strain, said he will return “when I feel like Zion”.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said. “Not going to lie to you. It’s been very frustrating. Not being able to play sucks. But I mean, things have gotten better. Things have gotten a lot better.

“Physically I’m fine, now it’s just a matter of when I feel like Zion. I know the atmosphere I’d be entering based off like the playoff experience. So now it’s just a matter of when I feel like Zion.”

He was then asked what exactly “feeling like Zion” meant.

“I don’t feel like there are any specific benchmarks for being Zion,” he said. “It’s just a matter of like, you know, when I feel like myself. Just feeling like myself and knowing that I can go out there and have a big impact for my team.”

Williamson added that he did not want to return too soon and negatively impact the Pelicans on the court.

“It’s a little bit of a mental battle, because you know when I reaggravated [the injury] back in February, it was tough,” he said. “So when I go to make certain moves, there is that hesitation. Sometimes there’s not and sometimes there is. And I understand the magnitude of these games coming up and I don’t want to be out there hesitating or doing something that may affect my team in a bad way.”

In the event of a Pelicans victory over the Thunder in the play-in on Wednesday, they would then play the loser of Lakers vs Timberwolves.

Zion is not expected to play in either contest, but if New Orleans win both potential play-in games and make it through to a first round series against the Nuggets, Williamson is leaving the door open for a return.

“If I feel like Zion, I’ll be out there,” he reiterated.

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