New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin says rookie Zion Williamson won't play in back-to-backs when he returns from his knee injury.

Williamson underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in October. He won't return before the initial six-to-eight week projection of his knee rehab.

The meniscus surgery Williamson underwent is unknown, although most experts believe it was a meniscectomy rather than a true repair since the initial estimated timeline was six-to-eight weeks.

Williamson is the new face of the Pelicans in the post-Anthony Davis era. This isn’t how anyone in New Orleans wanted to see Zion’s NBA career begin, but his health is very important and everyone in The Big Easy just wants Williamson to be healthy for the long haul.

In his lone season at Duke, Williamson put on an absolute show. The forward averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 68.0 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 64.0 percent from the free-throw line.

There are some who believe Williamson should sit out the entire season. Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and Griffin, though, have given no indication that Williamson will sit out the whole year. Both men have said that Williamson hasn't suffered any setbacks in his rehab.