Why is Zion Williamson not playing tonight against Sacramento Kings? Latest on Pelicans star's absence (Dec. 12)

Zion Williamson is listed as out for the New Orleans Pelicans' home matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. This will be the Pelicans star's 17th straight missed game and 19th overall for the season. He has appeared in only six outings so far.

New Orleans will also be without Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins, Brandon Ingram and Karlo Matkovic. Javonte Green is listed as questionable and his participation will be a game-time decision.

What happened to Zion Williamson?

Zion Williamson sprained his left hamstring during the New Orleans Pelicans matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 6 and has been sidelined ever since. ESPN's Shams Charania gave an update on the 2-time All-Star's return timeline on the "Pat McAfee Show" last week.

“Zion has been out for about a month and he's not close to coming back.”

In the six games that Williamson has played this season, he averaged 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 blocks in 31.0 minutes of playtime. He shot 45.2% from the field including 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled to make an impact this season. Currently on another losing streak, New Orleans stands last in the Western Conference with a 5-20 record, having won just one of their last 10 matchups.

Former NBA champion gives candid statement on Zion Williamson's future with Pelicans

Injury woes have plagued Zion Williamson ever since he was drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft. Since his arrival, the Pelicans have remained a mediocre team, and this season they have fallen to one of the worst records in the league.

During a recent episode of KG Certified, former NBA champion Paul Pierce gave his blunt take on Zion's future with the Pelicans.

“I think it’s time for them to go separate ways,” Pierce said.

While Williamson has the potential to be a franchise-altering superstar, continuous injuries have limited the contributions of the 6-foot-6 forward. Indeed, he has played in just over 43% of the Pelicans' regular season games in his six seasons with the team.

Last season was the healthiest for Zion, as he played in 70 games before getting injured ahead of the playoffs. His increased presence correlated with New Orleans finishing with a 49-33 record, their best in over a decade.

Williamson is two seasons into his five-year contract. However, his contract is not fully guaranteed beyond this point and the Pelicans will have the option to waive the 24-year-old without incurring significant financial ramifications.