New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a right adductor injury and will miss at least three weeks, which is the next time he’ll be reevaluated, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Zion Williamson Returns To Injury List
Williamson, who already missed 11 games earlier this season due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, has been plagued by injuries throughout his NBA career since being selected No. 1 overall out of Duke in the 2019 draft.
According to Basketball Reference, Williamson has appeared in 61 or more games in a single season just twice. He played in 30 games last season before the Pelicans shut him down last March due to a bone bruise in his back.
Williamson also played 30 or fewer games in three seasons and missed the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign. He’s played in only 224 games since New Orleans drafted him.
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson will miss extended time with a right adductor injury, sources tell ESPN. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks. pic.twitter.com/NZtuinR4Qq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 2, 2025
Last season, Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 28.6 minutes per game while shooting 56.7% from the floor and 65.6% from the free throw line.
Through just 10 appearances (all starts) this campaign, Williamson is averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 30.9 minutes per contest while shooting 51% from the field and 72.3% from the foul line.
Pelicans Guaranteed Williamson’s Salary
During the offseason, the Pelicans guaranteed Williamson’s $39.4 million salary for this season. His 2025-26 salary is part of the five-year, $197.23 million extension he signed with New Orleans in July 2022.
Williamson, 25, is slated to make $42.16 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28. Those salaries, however, are nonguaranteed unless Williamson meets the games played threshold.
At this juncture, the North Carolina native’s trade value has to be at an all-time low.
Per ESPN Stats & Information, the Pelicans have a -3.0 net efficiency this season when Williamson is on the court and a -13.9 net efficiency when he is off the court.
Although Williamson has been linked to multiple teams for a potential trade, it’s difficult picturing a club making any type of deal to land the oft-injured wing.
However, at least one team could take a chance on the six-year veteran.
The last-place Pelicans (3-18) enter Tuesday with the NBA’s worst record.
