Zion Williamson to Miss Pelicans Final Preseason Game Against Knicks With Apparent Knee Soreness

Basketball fans have been anticipating Zion Williamson's NBA debut long before the Pelicans made him the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in May. In fact, apart from fans in New Orleans, NBA lovers in the Big Apple may be the group most enamored with Zion.

However, and in major disappointment to Knicks fans, Williamson will miss New Orleans' final preseason game against the Knicks on Friday due to apparent right knee soreness.

And the soreness may be cause for concern considering Zion returned to New Orleans for further tests on the knee, skipping the trip to New York entirely.

Zion Williamson OUT for tomorrow at New York with right knee soreness, Pelicans announce. He will undergo further testing and evaluation in New Orleans. Did not travel with the Pelicans to New York.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 17, 2019

Williamson has looked excellent in four preseason games. He is averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 27.3 minutes per game and has produced several highlight-reel dunks.

Another preseason Zion game ... Another Zion dunk ? pic.twitter.com/q6riSq33zJ
— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2019

The 19-year-old is no stranger to knee issues. Williamson sprained his right knee, the same knee that is currently bothering him, last year at Duke. He also missed action in the Summer League in July thanks to a left knee bruise.

The Pelicans start their season next Wednesday, Oct. 22 against the reigning champs in Toronto, and they're certainly not looking to overwork their franchise player before the season starts.