Zion Williamson says “mental battle” is keeping him on the sideline

METAIRIE – Zion Williamson said Tuesday that he’s physically “fine”, but didn’t shed any light on when he might return to the court with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Williamson, who has not played since January 2 because of a hamstring injury, spoke after practice as his teammates prepared to play a play-in elimination game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in the Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans have said Williamson won’t play Wednesday or Friday – if the team advances to face the loser of Tuesday’s play-in game between the Lakers and the Timberwolves on the road.

A loss Wednesday or Friday would end New Orleans’ season.

“Things have gotten a lot better,” Williamson said. “Physically I’m fine.”

Shams Charamia of The Athletic told the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday that he has been told Williamson is “not even close” to returning and would likely miss a first-round playoff series if New Orleans were to advance. Charamia added that Williamson’s “conditioning is just not there.”

Williamson’s description of his status to reporters was somewhat different. The All-Star forward said that physically he can “pretty much do everything,” but he’s engaged in a “little bit of a mental battle.”

He added that he would play when “I feel like Zion,” adding that the decision on when to play would be a “collective” one made by him and the organization, both of whom have been “extra cautious so it doesn’t happen again.”

Williamson, who aggravated the injury in February, said there are “certain moments” when he hesitates about making a basketball move, though there are other times when he doesn’t hesitate.

He said he “understands the magnitude” of this moment for the team, but doesn’t want to be hesitant in a game and “affect my team in a bad way.”

“I’m a competitor,” Williamson said. “I don’t want to go out there and be in my head and affect the team.”

Williamson, who missed all of last season because of multiple foot surgeries and watched as the Pelicans won consecutive elimination games in the play-in tournament before battling top-seeded Phoenix for six games and being eliminated, said it “sucks” to have to watch his teammates from the bench at the climax of the season.

“I love this game,” he added. “I just want to be playing basketball. I want to hoop. I want to play the game I love.”