The New Orleans Pelicans are entering the 2024-25 campaign with quite a bit of excitement, as they have a strong core group led by Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, and CJ McCollum.
With Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum getting swept in their first round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, the front office went out and traded for Murray in hopes of bolstering their titles chances.
The team’s starting lineup, which is set to feature Herb Jones at center, looks formidable, but they could already end up being short handed for their first game. Head coach Willie Green revealed that both Williamson and Murray are going to be game-time decisions for their season-opener against the Chicago Bulls.
Willie Green said Zion Williamson did not participate in today's practice due to an illness. He'll be a gametime decision for tomorrow's season opener.
Dejounte Murray will also be a gametime decision. The belief is he'll be back in New Orleans later today.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) October 22, 2024
Staying on the court has been a big problem for Williamson early on in his career, as last year was the first season where he managed to play in at least 70 games. So it’s a bit concerning to see he could already miss time, even if he’s just dealing with an illness.
Meanwhile, Murray has been away from the team due to personal reasons, and while he is expected to be back in New Orleans on Tuesday, he still may not be ready to go for the team’s clash against the Bulls.
The hope is that at least one of these guys will be able to suit up for their season-opener. If they can’t expect Jose Alvarado and Yves Missi to have larger roles for New Orleans as they look to find a way to pick up a win against Chicago.
Williamson and Murray’s status for their clash with the Bulls is worth monitoring, and it will be worth checking back in before tip off, which is currently set for 8:00 P.M. EST, to see whether or not they are playing.
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