New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is listed at 285 pounds. Some have hinted that his frame may have played a role in his recent meniscus tear, but general manager David Griffin says it's “asinine” to blame weight.

Griffin spoke with reporters during Tuesday morning's shootaround, insisting that Williamson is “in elite condition.”

There was a lot of hype surrounding Zion entering this season, but NBA fans will have to wait a while to see the former Duke standout in action. The 19-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on Monday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

The Pelicans remain firm in their belief that weight is not the issue here.

Via Shams Charania of The Athletic:

Williamson’s rehabilitation could mean less weight-lifting and more strategic planning, but the Pelicans plan to figure out the best method while letting Zion be Zion, and that does not include managing his weight.

Zion looked great in the preseason. In fact, he posted a dominant performance in a 123-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds. Now, though, he'll work towards recovery.

With Williamson out, Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors and Nicolo Melli will likely see upticks in their usage rates.

The Pelicans kick off their 2019-20 regular season on Tuesday night with a matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off inside Scotiabank Arena is set for 8:00 p.m. ET, with TNT having live broadcast coverage.