A new knee injury sidelines Kevon Looney, intensifying the Pelicans' injury-plagued narrative and threatening their season's fragile start.
The New Orleans Pelicans got some devastating injury news on Wednesday, that possible starting center Kevon Looney was going be out for two to three weeks with a knee injury. With the season beginning in less than a week, that means Looney will miss the start of the year.
While this isn't an injury that will massively impact the season as a whole, it certainly doesn't bode well for the upcoming campaign.
Looney has played in at least 74 games in each of the last four seasons, with two straight years of playing in every single game. Now, before his first regular-season match for the Pelicans, he is out with an injury.
New Orleans is trying to shed an identity that it has built up over the years. One that revolves around the health of their players.
Former Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels has stamped the organization as cursed, making the outside view of the team even lower than it already was.
"That organization's cursed," said Daniels to Jake Fischer last December. "Every year there's something new. I’m happy I’m not there anymore."
Last year, Yves Missi was the only New Orleans player to play in at least 70 games. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was the only other one to play in at least 60. Injuries destroyed the season and have dominated every conversation about the Pelicans since.
The constant uncertainty around Zion Williamson is yet another wrinkle into the frustration surrounding this team's recent past.
When the team finally decided to move on from David Griffin this past offseason, in favor of Joe Dumars and co., there was some hope that things might change.
Williamson arrived at media day reinvigorated and stated that he was in the best shape of his career. He looked like it, too. There was some positive momentum for the franchise.
Now, just a week before the season begins, they get hit with more injury troubles. It's hard for the news not to hit like a ton of bricks, even if Looney isn't considered to be one of the team's 'top players.'
The veteran is going to be very important to the team this year. He has a great relationship with Jordan Poole, has championship experience, and is an excellent rebounder. He looked in line for a starting role over Missi.
Now, it looks like Missi will start the year at center and the team is going to have to deal with a very weak center room for the first couple of weeks.
Derik Queen's return would be fantastic, but his injury status remains unknown. He's also a rookie who hasn't played since the summer league, so it's unclear how impactful he will be once he does get going. Karlo Matkovic is also dealing with an injury.
That leaves the undrafted rookie Hunter Dickinson as the only backup center who is healthy and under contract.
Hopefully, Looney can find his way back to the court soon, but this is the last way that anyone wanted his time in New Orleans to begin.