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[Jolly Sports News] Just as Zion Williamson returned to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup, he’s found himself at the center of controversy once again.
The Pelicans announced on Friday that Williamson has been suspended for one game for violating team policies. He will serve the suspension during the team’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday but is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday.
Williamson, the former No. 1 overall pick, had just made his long-awaited return on Tuesday after missing over two months due to a hamstring injury. Although he sat out Wednesday’s game in a back-to-back set, he was expected to play on Friday until news of the suspension broke.
While the Pelicans declined to specify what policy was violated, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Williamson was late for Thursday’s team flight to Philadelphia, prompting the disciplinary action.
This isn’t the first time friction has emerged between Williamson and the Pelicans, with past concerns about his conditioning and other issues. Recently, rumors have surfaced that the Pelicans are considering shopping Williamson ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, making his situation one to closely monitor in the coming weeks.
