Pelicans suspend Zion Williamson for 1 game due to repeated tardiness

The New Orleans Pelicans suspended power forward Zion Williamson for Friday night's game against Philadelphia for a violation of team policies.

Williamson has been tardy this season to multiple Pelicans practices or flights, which led to the one-game ban.

"There were several occasions that led up to this and that's how we got to this decision," coach Willie Green said ahead of the 76ers' game.

Williamson has been sidelined by various injuries for more games than he has played since being drafted first overall out of Duke in 2019. He has appeared in just seven of New Orleans' 38 games this season. The Pelicans have gone 2-5 in those games, and 5-26 without him.

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The 24-year-old Williamson apologized in a statement to team owner Gayle Benson and the entire organization for his behavior.

"I take full responsibility for this suspension," he said. "I've worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team. There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an apology to the fans. I can and will be better as a teammate and member of this organization."

Williamson showed another flash of his talent with a monster dunk Tuesday against Minnesota.

Williamson symbolically announced his return from a 27-game injury absence with a breakaway dunk in which he rotated 360 degrees in the air while throwing down a crowd-pleasing, double-clutch, roundhouse jam.

Williamson also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block on Wolves center Rudy Gobert. After a few minutes on the court, he revved up the crowd with a soaring two-handed dunk of CJ McCollum's