NBA injury update: New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson reveals return timeline ahead of Los Angeles Lakers clash

Zion Williamson missed his first game since December 11 due to an ankle injury. The athlete played for 35 consecutive games. Along with scoring ability, the athlete is known for his injury-proneness.

He missed the New Orleans Pelicans' clash with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pelicans lost the game by 20 points. Now, ahead of the clash against the Los Angeles Lakers, Zion gave a major injury update along with his return timeline.Zion appeared on NBA Today and made the revelation. The athlete currently averages 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He is one of the top scorers for the team and the Pelicans definitely need him during the final stretches of the season.

The team is currently at the bottom of the Western Conference with a win-loss streak of 19-43.

Zion Williamson expects to be back against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday

Zion Williamson was drafted in 2019 by the New Orleans Pelicans. Since then, the athlete has remained with the team and has been one of the driving forces for their wins. However, along with his scoring abilities, Zion is also known for his injuries. The most recent one was while playing against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. The Pelicans won that game with a 10-point lead.

However, due to the injury, Zion could not score much during that game.

He racked up only 4 points in that game. Zion’s team faced a loss in the very next game against the LA Clippers and this was the first game since December 2025 that Zion had missed.

Emphasizing his absence and possible return timeline, Zion, on NBA Today, was asked, “We are seeing that work right now and we mention the ankle injury. But this is something that is short-term, right? How quickly do you expect to be back on the field?” The athlete had a quick response and immediately replied, “I expect to be back tomorrow against the Lakers.”

This is good news for both the fans and the team. While the team has not officially confirmed the status, the player’s statement might just revive the hope for the team during the final stretch of the season.

What is Zion Williamson’s hardest part of his career?

During the same interview, Zion Williamson revealed the hardest part of his career. The athlete has been known for being frequently out due to injury. One of his injuries even made the athlete miss an entire season. This was the hardest part for the New Orleans Pelicans star. Talking about it, Zion stated, “The most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. … There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game.

… I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.” Zion played for 45 games this season. His 35-consecutive-game streak in the 2025-2026 season was broken due to his absence against the LA Clippers.