It’s been a tough season for the New Orleans Pelicans and it’s going to get even tougher.
Herb Jones, the team’s defensive standout, is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a posterior labrum tear in his right shoulder, the team announced Friday.
Pelicans announce that forward Herb Jones has a posterior labral tear in his right shoulder. An MRI done yesterday confirmed the injury.
Jones will be away indefinitely and further updates will be provided as appropriate. pic.twitter.com/8TAi136BCx
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 10, 2025
It was previously reported that Jones suffered a shoulder injury following the Pelicans’ loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, in which he left after a season-low 18 minutes. He missed eighteen games earlier this season due to an injury to the same shoulder.
Coming off last year’s NBA All-Defense selection, Jones averaged 32.4 minutes per game this season.
This is just one more injury for the snake-bitten Pelicans, who sit in the cellar of the Western Conference at 7-31. Only one of their players, Yves Missi, has registered more than 25 starts. Star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have both missed significant time due to injuries.
After being out since early November, Williamson finally returned to the lineup on Tuesday. But on Friday afternoon, the team suspended Williamson for one game for “a violation of team policy.” ESPN reported that Williamson was late Thursday for the team’s flight to Philadelphia, where the Pelicans play Friday night, and NBA journalist Chris Haynes reported that Williamson was late to multiple practices, which played a role in the suspension.
