Basketball is one of the most demanding sports on the body. The wear and tear of an 82-game regular season, plus the playoffs, is something that can dramatically cut the length of an athlete’s career. The Pelicans have been searching for the face of the franchise ever since they traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. Zion Williamson was supposed to be that player, but five recurring injuries have cut his playing time nearly in half.
Zion Williamson’s Injuries Have Been A Major Impediment
Going into the eighth year of his career, Williamson has missed almost 50% of his possible games due to various injuries. The fact that he has sustained only two serious injuries during his career shows a pattern. Those major injuries were a torn meniscus in his right knee during his rookie season and a right foot fracture (Jones fracture) that kept him out for an entire season. A Jones fracture is a break in the fifth metatarsal, the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe.
There is a reason body types like his are not often seen in the league, and the unreal athleticism for a person of his size will always create doubts about the longevity of his career. The number of soft-tissue injuries in both of his legs gives fuel to those doubts about whether a player with his biotype can perform night in and night out at the highest level in the best basketball league in the world.
He has either strained or torn both hamstrings on five different occasions across multiple seasons, causing him to miss critical games, including the playoffs in the 2024 season. The issue with this type of injury is that when a hamstring tears, the body repairs it with scar tissue. That tissue is less elastic than healthy muscle, making it a weak point during sprinting, jumping, or sudden acceleration.
Also, when a hamstring is injured, an athlete can change the way he runs to compensate, creating extra load on the other leg, which could explain why Williamson has suffered injuries in both legs.
Biggest Career Injuries
- Right Meniscus Tear (2019-20) – Delayed NBA debut.
- Right Foot Fracture (2021-22) – Cost him an entire season.
- Right Hamstring Strain (2022-23) – Ended an All-Star-caliber season.
- Left Hamstring Strain (2024 Play-In) – Kept him out of his first real playoff opportunity.
- Recurring Hamstring Issues (2024-25 and 2025-26) – Became the most persistent injury concern of his career.
During his offseason workouts, Williamson looked noticeably fitter, claiming that he is lighter than he was during his only year in college. A study by Stephen P. Messier and colleagues, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism in 2005, showed that for every pound of body weight an athlete loses, the load exerted on the knee joint decreases by about four pounds per step during daily activities. He states that his current weight is 271 pounds, which is 13 pounds less than in other seasons. That’s a whopping 52 pounds less stress on his joints every time he runs or jumps during a game.
Playing at a lighter weight could be a salvation for his career, as many analysts believe his situation is becoming similar to that of athletes such as Greg Oden and Brandon Roy. Most famously, LeBron James lost anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds in 2014. He has been listed at 250 pounds every season since then. His trainer later explained that reducing weight and inflammation could improve recovery and lessen wear and tear on the body.
Changing his playing style could help Williamson avoid unnecessary hits. He has been working on a mid-range jumper, which could help reduce the number of times he gets hit by driving into the paint.
A Faster Playing Pace
The game has become faster over the past 10 years. According to stats from StatMuse.com, teams are playing roughly 7.2 more possessions per game. Also, ESPN has stated that the NBA is currently being played at its fastest pace since 1988-89. This takes a huge toll on the body, with soft-tissue, non-contact injuries increasing exponentially.
Achilles injuries are on the rise, with players like Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and, most recently, Ben Simmons unfortunately suffering this type of injury. For a heavier player who depends on his athleticism like Williamson, that could be a death sentence for his career.
With changes in the rules and better spacing, the game has evolved. Those 80-70 final scores seen in the late 1990s are now being broken many times by halftime.
The game is evolving due to the following circumstances:
- Much greater reliance on the three-point shot.
- Increased emphasis on transition offense.
- More spacing, leading to quicker offensive decisions.
- Rule interpretations that favor offensive flow and freedom of movement.
The Last Word
With two years left on Williamson’s deal, the Pelicans have all the cards on the table. If Williamson finds a way to stay healthy, improve on the defensive end, and take his conditioning seriously enough, he is a top-15 offensive talent in the league, and easily the best Pelicans player. It’s a big “if.” Currently, he has little trade value around the league, as various general managers doubt his durability. With no real extension talks in the works, his days in the Big Easy could be numbered.
Featured Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images