Bobby Marks
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Bobby Marks
ESPN
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Kevin Pelton
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Kevin Pelton
ESPN Senior Writer
- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
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Jul 16, 2020, 12:54 PM ET

Star New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has left the NBA bubble due to a family medical matter, with plans to return and rejoin his team at a later date.

It's unclear for now if Williamson will miss any games. The Pelicans face the Utah Jazz in the first of the NBA seeding games on July 30, starting off 3.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

How will the coronavirus testing and quarantine protocol work when Williamson makes his planned return to Orlando? And what impact could his absence have on the NBA playoff race if he doesn't return for the beginning of the restart?

NBA insiders Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton break down the implications.