The New Orleans Pelicans have had a pretty rough season. That's no secret. Despite their overall struggles as a team, though, some players actually managed to have good or even great individual campaigns.
CJ McCollum remained as steady as ever while entering his mid-30s as a small guard. Trey Murphy III exploded onto the scene and established himself as a viable second banana for the Pelicans amid Brandon Ingram's absence and eventual departure. Zion Williamson's season might be quickly forgotten due to him only playing 30 games and New Orleans's abysmal record, but he was undoubtedly one of the dominant forces in the entire NBA this year when he was on the court.
On the other hand, some of the Pelicans had awful seasons more reflective of the team's overall performance. Players like Jordan Hawkins and Jose Alvarado failed to step up when given larger opportunities, which is the primary reason this team ultimately tanked. Others, like Herb Jones, spent practically the entire campaign on the sidelines with injury. With the Pelicans' medical history, it's only natural for the fans to be especially concerned about Jones's issues this year, but they needn't worry too much.
Pelicans shouldn't be worried about Herb Jones's injuries
The New Orleans Pelicans lost their entire 2024-25 NBA season to injuries, as virtually the entire core roster spent extended time in rehabilitation this year. As a team that's been built around Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson for the last decade plus, this is, of course, a familiar feeling for the Pelicans and their faithful. Thankfully, something good could come out of it depending on how the lottery and subsequent draft treat New Orleans.
Still, it's never good to hear that injuries could end up affecting not just one season for a team but two. It's highly possible that Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones will all wind up missing some time next year with their current ailment. This was especially concerning to hear about Herb, considering it's the first long-term absence in his career.
But that's exactly why the Pelicans and their fans shouldn't be too worried about Jones and his outlook moving forward. Through four years, this past season was his first with less than 66 total games played. He did go down with a pretty serious injury, tearing the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Thankfully, though, this lost season from the Pelicans and the upcoming offseason will give him plenty of time to recover.
He's expected to bounce back fully and return to being one of the greatest values in the NBA. It's no coincidence that the Pelicans' worst season since drafting Herb Jones came when he was unavailable for the majority of the campaign. They'll need him back at full strength if they're to make any noise next year. Chances are, he'll be back and better than ever.