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On Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson departed the team at the Walt Disney World Resort in order to attend to an urgent family medical matter.
The details of the incident in which led Williamson to leave the team are not immediately known but the team said the plan is for Williamson to re-join the team in the future. The team said in a statement they support Williamson’s decision to be with his family and would not offer further comment.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said on Saturday that he has not been in contact with Williamson since he left the team and has no additional information on the situation.
I have not talked to him. I haven’t been in contact with him and I don’t have any information other than that. I’m not real sure what the status is right now but I’m sure as soon as we get information, we’ll let you guys know.
J.J. Redick, Williamson’s teammate on the Pelicans, said Thursday on his podcast that he felt awful for him as Williamson appeared to be in a good place prior to leaving the team.
I reached out to Zion and I told him we’re going to do our best to hold it down for him until he gets back, whenever that is. As a teammate, he is a family member so we’ll do our best to keep this thing rolling. Whatever is going on, we want the best for him. I feel awful for him because so much of this season has been a rollercoaster for him and it seemed like he was in such a good place so, hopefully, we get him back soon.
Of course, his undisclosed family medical matter takes precedence over playing basketball and the Pelicans have seemingly given Williamson the space needed during this time.
The Pelicans will play their first scrimmage game on Wednesday vs. the Brooklyn Nets.
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