Prized Pelicans’ rookie Williamson on the shelf

Zion Williamson, arguably the most highly anticipated NBA rookie since LeBron James, won’t play in his first regular season game until at least December as he recovers from an injury to his right knee.

Williamson had arthroscopic surgery Monday to fix a torn lateral meniscus, the New Orleans Pelicans said Monday. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Initially, Williamson’s injury, believed to have been suffered in a preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 13, was described as “soreness.” Now, the league is missing one of its main draws as it attempts to move past an ugly rift with the Chinese government with a splashy start to the regular season.

The NBA had scheduled the Pelicans against the Toronto Raptors as its opener tonight as part of a prime-time doubleheader. The Raptors won a title last season, but lost their best player, Kawhi Leonard, to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.

Losing Williamson for a long stretch hurts the slim Pelicans’ playoff hopes, especially given the competitiveness of the Western Conference. A return in six weeks would fall around Dec. 3, when New Orleans hosts the Dallas Mavericks.

Williamson managed to meet the hype he had garnered after playing one year at Duke in just four preseason NBA games, averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds on 71% shooting.

But there were injury concerns. In summer league in Las Vegas, Williamson only played nine minutes in his debut, before missing the rest of the session. The culprit — banging a knee with another player. . CELTICS SIGN F BROWN TO EXTENSION >> The Boston Celtics have signed forward Jaylen Brown to a contract extension, beating a Monday deadline to extend the player who has emerged as a key part of the team’s future.

The four-year deal could pay Brown as much as $115 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The total includes incentives, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because terms of the deal were not announced. KINGS, G HIELD AGREE TO DEAL >> Fourth-year guard Buddy Hield has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Sacramento Kings.

Hield started all 82 games for the Kings last season and averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. During his rookie season of 2016-17, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hield was acquired by the Kings in the trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans. PACERS RE-UP WITH SABONIS >> The Indiana Pacers have signed power forward Domantas Sabonis to a four-year contract extension.

Team officials completed the deal less than two hours before an NBA deadline would have allowed players with rookie contracts to become restricted free agents next summer.

The Pacers did not announce financial terms of the deal though ESPN.com first reported it was worth $77 million in guaranteed money and Sabonis could make as much as $85 million with bonuses. NETS GIVE PRINCE EXTENSION >> Taurean Prince quickly showed the Brooklyn Nets he was worth keeping around.

The Nets signed Prince to a multiyear contract extension just a few months after acquiring him in an offseason trade.