Marshall is injured. The condition doesn't look that good.
The New Orleans Pelicans lost 105-110 against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023-2024 NBA preseason held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on the 15th (Korean time).
New Orleans lost by 5 points in a situation where key players such as CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram were not in normal condition. Zion Williamson, who returned from injury, also struggled, scoring 16 points, but his rim attack power was not as explosive as before.
The problem is that another injury occurred during the game. Najee Marshall, one of the key rotation resources, left the court due to injury during the second quarter. It is important to improve your senses and coordinate your lineup with each other during preseason games, but injuries are also a factor that must be avoided.
Marshall's injury was unfortunate. While blocking an opponent's rim attack, he injured his right knee on the landing. Complaining of his pain, he was helped by his teammates and then taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. He did not play in the remaining games.
Marshall is New Orleans' key swingman, starting 21 of 77 games last season and averaging 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds. Marshall, who was consistently in the rotation, scored double-digit scores in 10 consecutive games, supporting a team that was suffering from injuries.
In New Orleans, it is unclear whether Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado, who are out due to injuries, will participate in the opening game. In the case of third-year wing resource Trey Murphy III, it is inevitable that he will miss the beginning of the season due to a meniscus injury. If Marshall is also left out, the depth will be significantly reduced.
New Orleans suffered from terrible bad news last season and ultimately ended the season in disappointment. Unlike the team that showed off their competitiveness by advancing to the playoffs the previous season, Zion Williamson suffered from an injury again, and Brandon Ingram also had an unhealthy season. Their important keyword for the new season is health.
To make matters worse, Herb Jones, an important defensive resource, was also unable to return to New Orleans after suffering a neck injury in the first quarter of the game against Atlanta. There are too many deserters before the Pelicans can even flap their wings.