[jwplayer FUDhYKlf]
No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson will be a game-time decision as the New Orleans Pelicans kick off the season restart opener Thursday night against the Utah Jazz.
Williamson left the Pelicans at the Walt Disney World Resort on July 16 to attend to an urgent family matter and returned on July 24. He returned to practice on Tuesday following a four-day quarantine period and participated in a light session on Wednesday.
Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said Wednesday that the team will discuss a game plan with Williamson and the medical staff for his return but said he would be a game-time decision against the Jazz after participating in two days of practice.
The Pelicans have been cautious with Williamson this season but Hall of Famer Reggie Miller disagreed with the team’s approach to his status on Thursday. Miller said on “The Dan Patrick Show” that Williamson needs to be playing if he is fully healthy.
Is it a game-time decision because of an underlying health issue or because of conditioning? If it’s because of conditioning, and you’re 20 years old, get out there and play. We have an opportunity here, and I know they’re 3.5 [games] behind Memphis, Memphis has one of the most difficult schedules in the seeding games and New Orleans has the easiest. You have an opportunity to be within that four-game gap to have a play-in game.
Also, too, if you’re Alvin Gentry and you’re the Pelicans, you’re trying to build a foundation; you’re trying to build for the future. Are you necessarily going to win a championship this year? No, but let’s build winning habits, playoff habits. Let’s play at a high level. For me, that includes having Zion on the floor. If he’s hurt or injured, I can understand that but if it’s coming from a conditioning standpoint, I heard him comment, ‘I could play 48 minutes if I had to.’ Well, let’s test that out. He needs to be on the floor playing.
Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said this week that the team would be cautious with any player that missed a significant amount of time without doing any physical activity, especially with Williamson given the amount of torque he generates.
Williamson returned to the Pelicans in great shape after working out extensively with his stepfather over the summer. He said that he wants to play on Thursday but the decision will ultimately be up to the team and the medical staff.
The Pelicans tip-off the season restart at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
[lawrence-related id=20696]
[vertical-gallery id=14282]