
The New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night and it will mark many special occasions for the franchise’s players.
First and foremost, guard Dejounte Murray will make his long-awaited return to the basketball court in January 2025 after missing a total of 13 months due to a torn right Achilles tendon.
Head coach James Borrego said before the game, Murray would play and be on a one-minute limit in the game.
But Tuesday night will also mark a milestone for forward Zion Williamson. Duke’s former number one player has suffered a number of injuries since entering the league in 2019, and everyone is hoping he will finally turn a corner this season.
Tuesday night will mark Williamson’s 26th consecutive start, a new career high for the Pelicans forward.
Zion Williamson is set to make his 26th consecutive start tonight, which would be the longest of his career.
– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 24 February 2026
So far, Zion Williamson has played in 42 of the Pelicans’ 58 games this season, averaging 21.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 58.7 percent from the field.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Friday’s game against the Bucks was the 41st game of the season for Zion Williamson, who triggered a $16.8 million contract guaranteed for the 2026-27 season.
If Williamson is able to play eight more games to reach 51 after tonight, his contract guarantees will increase to $25.3 million. If he plays 61 games it will jump to $33.7 million.
If Williamson plays 61 games and meets certain weight criteria, he can fully guarantee the $42.2 million he is owed for the 2026–27 season.
The Pelicans have 24 games remaining on Tuesday, meaning Williamson will have to play in 19 of the final 24 games to have a chance to fully guarantee a deal next season.
In his seven seasons in the NBA, Zion Williamson has played 24 games in his rookie season, 61 in his second season, did not play at all in the 2021-22 season, 29 games in his third season, 70 games in his fourth season, and 30 games in his fifth season.
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