New Orleans Pelicans star rookie Zion Williamson has just left the NBA Bubble in Orlando to attend to an “urgent family medical matter”. In his absence, the Pelicans are holding on to their next man up mentality that has worked for them all season.

“He’s a great player we’ll miss, but one thing we’ve always talked about – even when we went through the tough times – was next man up.” explained head coach Alvin Gentry (per NBA.com). “We’re a deep team. A very deep team. We’ll have guys who step in and play. We’ll have guys who’ll have to up their game a little bit more. But right now we’re not concerned about the basketball part of it. We’re concerned about (Williamson’s) family.”

The Pelicans slowly found their way.
Key players Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday enabled the Pelicans to gradually become one of the dark horses in the league even while their prized rookie was initially sidelined by surgery. Holiday elaborated on this journey.

“As much as it hurts to say, we’ve done it before,” Holiday said. “Obviously we were excited to have him on the court, but with him gone, taking care of his family, we’ll hold down the fort for him. He’s our brother and he needs to take care of his family, take care of his business. This is nothing new. I feel like we talk about it all the time… with how crazy this season has been, this is just another obstacle we have to get through as a team.”

If Williamson comes back, he will have to test negative multiple times before being allowed into the bubble. He would be subjected to a mandatory four-day quarantine period once he enters. Time is definitely not on the Pelicans' side before they resume their 2019-2020 campaign against the Utah Jazz on July 30.

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