Pelicans Clear Zion Williamson for Contact Basketball

The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Wednesday that star forward Zion Williamson has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities with contact, marking a positive step in his recovery from a grade 1 left hamstring strain diagnosed on November 4. The 25-year-old former No. 1 overall pick, who has appeared in just five of the team's first 10 games this season, is expected to miss Friday's NBA Cup matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Smoothie King Center but could return as early as Sunday's home game against the Golden State Warriors.

Williamson, averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field in his limited action, last played on November 2 in a 137-106 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He logged 28 minutes that night, scoring 20 points with nine rebounds and six assists. His absence has compounded the Pelicans' early-season woes, as the team sits at 2-9, last in the Western Conference with the league's worst assist average and second-worst field-goal percentage.

The Pelicans opened the 2025-26 campaign with six straight losses, including several blowouts that highlighted deficiencies in rebounding and...