At present, the NBA regular season is in its final stages, and each team is playing its own small calculation. Teams that have been basically determined to enter the playoffs are still trying to find a better qualifying position; teams on the edge of the playoffs must try to keep their positions as much as possible and not fall out of the ranks at the last minute.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, it's a critical time, they just finished the rebound against the Los Angeles Lakers, rising to the ninth place in the West, but there can be no more accidents.
But the Pelicans are still missing their core forward Zion Williamson, and the old show may be sure to be reimbursed for the season. Last season, Zion was seriously injured and went straight to a truce. But after an offseason of treatment and recovery, Zion still failed to meet the criteria for playing.
To make matters worse, Zion didn't have a good relationship with pelican management, hired a trainer to help him recover, and refused the Pelicans' guidance and help.
Today, Zion released a video that he can already complete the crotch change dunk shirtless in training, a set of actions that are flowing and very impactful. But dunking doesn't mean playing, and Denver Nuggets guard Murray staged a big windmill dunk in training a month ago and still hasn't made a comeback.
Now, some basketball reporters from the United States have revealed that Zion is not expected to play this season and can make a comeback in next season's training camp. That said, at this critical moment of impacting play-off qualification, the Pelicans can only use the existing McCollum and Ingram, and no longer have to pin their hopes on Zion.
Continuing to be reimbursed for the season, Zion will be questioned even if he comes back, and he will need to prove his ability again.