Zion Williamson just can’t seem to escape the noise. The New Orleans Pelicans star has once again become the punchline for NBA fans, and the latest update on his health didn’t help quiet things down.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Williamson will be sidelined for an extended stretch due to a right adductor injury, with a re-evaluation set for three weeks from now. And while the injury itself is serious enough, social media didn’t grant him any sympathy.
Fans immediately jumped in with their usual blend of humor and frustration.
One commented, “Also can’t catch a diet.”
Another joked, “Dude might start missing games soon for being hungry.”
A third chimed in with a harsher take: “Zion appearing on the injury report is the most consistent trend in the NBA… it hits at a higher clip than a Steph Curry free throw. ‘Extended time’ is Pelicans code for ‘see you next season.’”
BREAKING: Zion Williamson to miss “extended time” with a right adductor injury, per ESPN.
Can’t catch a break… pic.twitter.com/AutZsxoVm9
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 2, 2025
Before going down, Williamson was averaging 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds across 10 games—numbers the Pelicans can’t easily replace. And the analytics back that up: per ESPN research, New Orleans owns a -3.0 net efficiency with Zion on the court this season, but that number plummets to -13.9 when he’s unavailable.
“Being a Pelicans fan require the most dedication and patience”: NBA fans feel for Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans
Still, not all the reactions were jokes. Plenty of fans voiced their frustration from a place of loyalty, not mockery.
One posted, “Being a Pelicans or Kings fan gotta require the most dedication and patience ever.”
Being a Pelicans or Kings fan gotta require the most dedication and patience ever 😭
— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) December 2, 2025
Another wrote, “Really sad how the injuries don’t stop with Zion. The highs have been so high with him but hard to feel any confidence he’ll stay on the floor.”
A third tried to keep things light despite the bad news: “Zion’s adductor pulling the ultimate plot twist—out three weeks, just when NOLA was cooking. Man’s a supernova when healthy, but injuries are his shadow puppet show. Pelicans, time to summon the bench gods.”
For now, the Pelicans are left hoping these three weeks deliver good news, because the timing couldn’t be rougher. Sitting at the bottom of the West, the margin for error is thin, and losing their most explosive weapon only makes the climb tougher. All they can do is hope Zion rebounds quickly—on and off the court.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
