The New Orleans Pelicans kept Zion Williamson's foot injury and subsequent surgery quiet out of respect to him and his preference for privacy, sources tell ESPN.

The surgery only became publicly known on media day for the Pelicans in September. 

The Pelicans, however, had a strength and conditioning coach with Williamson in Los Angeles for his summer workouts so they were aware of the injury.

David Griffin has said both "early in the summer" and "before summer league" in vague terms in describing the injury.