3 Pelicans who must move forward due to Herb Jones’ injury

The New Orleans Pelicans the little striker announced on Friday Herb Jones will be out indefinitely due to a torn labrum. The news dealt another blow to the Pelicans’ 2024-25 season, which is falling apart at the seams.

In the 20 games for which Jones was available, he gave the Pelicans a solid game. Averaging 32.4 minutes on the floor, Jones was good for 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 43.6% from the field.

The Pelicans — at 8-31, the second-worst record in the NBA — had to deal with multiple players sidelined with injuries. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum topped the injury report all season. Jones put a lot of time into it before tearing his labrum.

The good news for the Pelicans is that – with the exception of Jones – they appear to be moving in the right direction from a health perspective. McCollum has been their leading scorer, Williamson is back, and Ingram, who is out with a sprained ankle, is expected to follow suit.

With Herb Jones on the shelf, who needs to step up?

Zion Williamson

While Williamson is back on the floor after two months on the sidelines, the Pelicans desperately need him to stay in the lineup. With his Banning the Pelicans for one game off the road, Williamson must focus on his health. His ability to stay active has recently been called into question, and the narrative is determined to be put to bed.

Williamson has been a difference maker for the Pelicans when he’s been on the court this season, throwing highlight reel dunks and exposing your potential. In seven games played this season, Williamson averaged 22.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and one steal per game, while averaging 30.6 from the floor. minutes.

Doc trade rumors persistently surrounded Williamsonhe stays focused on the task at hand.

“At the end of the day, control the things you can control and accept the things you can’t,” Williamson said. “As a professional, all I can do is come to work every day, work hard and have fun.” At the end of the day, I feel like, ‘We have to play basketball for a living.’ I love hooping.”

If Williamson can stick in the Pelicans’ lineup, the blow of losing Jones will be greatly softened.

Brandon Ingram

With Williamson back on the floor, the Pelicans are hoping their small forward can follow suit in relatively short order. Ingram’s sprained ankle occurred during the Pelicans’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 7 and the team has been without him for a month.

That loss to the Thunder started their 11-game losing streak – their longest of the season – but also left them with the worst record in the league.

Ingram was one of the best players on the floor for the Pelicans when he was available this season. In 18 games with him, Ingram averaged 33.1 minutes of action, 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.4 % with 3 points.

If Ingram can recover and return to the Pelicans lineup before too much time passes, he could help them finish the season on a high note. Entering the 2025-26 campaign with something to build on — and adding a top draft pick — could change the narrative around the franchise.

Dejounte Murray

Murray is another member of the Pelicans who has done time on the injury report this season, but has been among the best on the team when it comes to health. The guard has started 22 games for New Orleans this season. In 33.2 minutes of action, Murray averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 38.9% from the field.

Jones’ shooting ability is something the Pelicans will miss, but Murray can help fill that void. He impacted the Atlanta Hawks last season, shooting 36.3% from deep. If he can get close to that number again, it will be harder for the Pelicans to beat because they will have more options. It’s something that could stand them in good stead in the coming seasons, with the 2024-25 campaign likely to be a poor one.

Murray, when healthy, can make an argument to be viewed as one of the NBA’s most underrated guards. That’s the level of play the Pelicans will need from him if they want to turn things around.

A constant stream of injuries has plagued the Pelicans this season, but if these three players can step up, the energy surrounding the team could begin to change.