Report: Zion Williamson to miss “weeks” with right knee injury

The Pelicans announced Thursday that star rookie Zion Williamson was staying behind in New Orleans, missing the team’s preseason finale Friday against the New York Knicks with a sore right knee. The issue reportedly will cost him to miss the start of his first NBA regular season as well.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Williamson will miss “a period of weeks.”

The Pelicans previously indicated the former Duke All-American will undergo further testing and evaluation at Ochsner Sports Medicine.

Williamson shined in four preseason games, averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds on 71.4 percent shooting. However, the knee injury is the third he has encountered this calendar year and the second involving his right knee.