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New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson departed Orlando on Thursday morning to attend to an urgent family medical matter, the team announced in a press release.
Williamson intends to re-join the team at a later date.
“We fully support Zion’s decision to leave the NBA campus to be with his family,” Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said. “Out of respect for the Williamson family, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Williamson and the Pelicans arrived on July 8 at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. Williamson has participated in practice with the team since then and returned to the team in visibly better shape after working out with his stepfather daily during quarantine.
Zion Williamson update: pic.twitter.com/eShAPl1gB2
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 16, 2020
Of course, his undisclosed family medical matter takes precedence over playing basketball and the Pelicans will understandably give the No. 1 overall pick all of the time needed before returning.
The Pelicans begin the season restart July 30 vs. the Utah Jazz.
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