New York (AFP)

Young basketball star Zion Williamson, selected first draft pick in June by the New Orleans Pelicans, will miss the last preseason game against the Knicks on Friday, due to a "knee pain", a announced Thursday his team.

Williamson "is + out + for the last pre-season game against the Knicks because of right knee pain, he did not make the trip to New York with the team and stayed in New Orleans for further medical examinations, "said the franchise on his Twitter account.

The Pelicans did not specify the duration of their player's unavailability, or whether he will be present at the opening match of the NBA season, which will pit New Orleans against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, the defending champions .

Williamson's injury is all the more disturbing because she had already prevented him from playing six games with Duke University last season, and had poisoned his summer league in the summer.

During the pre-season, the 19-year-old recorded 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.

"He's as we could imagine, he's a monster, and he's going to get better, and it's clear that this kid is already a big player," said coach David Fizdale before announces his absence.

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