FILE– Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans. Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP
Zion Williamson had offseason foot surgery, and the New Orleans Pelicans hope he’ll be ready to play when the season starts next month, general manager David Griffin said Monday.
The surgery was required to repair a fracture, said Griffin, who offered few other details.
A 6-foot-7 power forward, Williamson was an All-Star in 2020-21. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Williamson averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games (all starts). He shot 61.1 percent.
That followed a rookie season in which he averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. He was limited to 24 games because of a torn meniscus.
In April, he missed time with a thumb sprain, and he sat out the final six games of the 2020-21 season because of a fractured left ring finger.
The Pelicans open the 2021-22 season October 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers.