NBA rumors: Zion Williamson to miss several weeks with knee injury

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One of the NBA’s brightest young stars will not be on the court for the first regular-season game of his NBA career.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will miss a “period of weeks” due to a right knee injury, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports citing league sources.

Williamson was the No. 1 overall draft pick back in June, and played in four preseason games, averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. The Pelicans announced Williamson would miss the final preseason game on Thursday.

The Warriors are now likely to miss Williamson when they visit New Orleans in 10 days for an early-season matchup with the upstart Pelicans. The Warriors’ dramatically depleted frontcourt should have an easier time inside without the hulking presence of Zion in the paint.

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Depending on how long Williamson ends up being out, this could have playoff implications for both the Warriors and Kings, who each are on the fringes of a loaded Western Conference with more than a handful of title contenders.

Buddy Hield and the Kings won't get their first shot at Hield's former employer until Jan. 2020, so expect to see Williamson back in uniform barring another negative update.

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