Photo: Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports

Zion Williamson won’t be available for the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of the season opener vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The superstar forward is recovering from a foot injury.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Williamson is without a firm timetable for getting back onto the court.

Williamson underwent a foot surgery during the offseason. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, according to New Orleans’ general manager David Griffin.

Injuries have bothered him during his first two seasons in the league, with Pelicans being extra careful with Zion’s injuries since the start of his career.

The Pelicans did not make the playoffs with Williamson as the franchise cornerstone, even though the former Duke superstar had his best season of his career last year.

He finished the season with averages of 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists, operating as New Orleans’ primary ball-handler in the second part of the season.

The Pelicans will need Zion at his best heading to the 2021-22 season. As the situation stands now, New Orleans will have to focus on winning without him.

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