The New Orleans Pelicans have been on a rollercoaster ride with injuries over the past season and a half, but there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The team finally has its fully healthy starting five back, although it might be too late to make a push for the Play-In Tournament or playoffs this year.
However, there's a silver lining. The Pelicans have unearthed two promising young talents who are changing the narrative about the team's health woes.
Their 2025 lottery picks, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, are leading the charge, ranking in the top five for games played this season. Fears even shares the spotlight with "Iron Man" Mikal Bridges for the most games played-a testament to his durability and consistency.
It seems the Pelicans are gradually transitioning from the Zion Williamson era, a period marked by potential but overshadowed by injuries. The rise of these two young, robust players is sparking excitement for the future in New Orleans.
The Zion Williamson era was a challenging chapter for the Pelicans, dominated by the question: Can they stay healthy? The story began in 2019 when Zion missed the first 44 games of the season.
The following years saw key players like Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball sidelined with injuries. In 2021-22, Zion was out for the entire season due to a foot fracture.
The 2022-23 season saw a promising start crumble after Zion's hamstring injury, leading to a fall in the Play-In Tournament.
The pattern continued in 2023-24 with Zion's recurring hamstring issues, resulting in a first-round sweep by Oklahoma City. Last season was no different, with Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Trey Murphy III suffering season-ending injuries, while Brandon Ingram managed only 18 games.
After seven years of battling injuries, the Pelicans are now looking forward to a new era centered around Fears and Queen. Their emergence is a sign that it's time to shift gears and build a fresh future. Unlike the past, where the team was searching for a way out of an injury-plagued core, they now have two young stars who not only have All-Star potential but also the ability to stay healthy.
The Pelicans have had promising young talent before, with players like Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. But this new duo offers something different: a clean slate and a chance to start anew, free from the shackles of injury concerns.