Zion Williamson will miss the Pelicans’ regular season opener | Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans will not have their leading scorer from last season when they face the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Zion Williamson will not play in the Pelicans’ 2024-25 regular season opener. Williamson is out with what the team described as an illness.

“Right now it’s kind of a virus,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Something like that.”

Williamson did not participate in the team’s practice on Tuesday or the team’s shootaround on Wednesday morning.

“He didn’t feel good,” Green said. “He’s been sick the last few days.”

After the game against the Bulls, the Pelicans will embark on a four-game road trip that begins Friday in Portland. Green said he did not know whether Williamson would accompany the team on the trip.

“We’re hopeful,” Green said. “We don’t know yet.”

Williamson sat out the Pelicans’ final preseason game. Green started this game with Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram and Daniel Theis.

Green wouldn’t confirm whether this is the starting lineup he plans to use against Chicago.

Murray missed practice on Tuesday to attend to a family emergency. He took part in shootaround Wednesday morning and will make his Pelicans debut against the Bulls, who have Coby White and Zach LaVine in the starting lineup.