New Orleans Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson has progressed to doing full-court work, however there’s nonetheless no definitive timetable on his return to aggressive play.
Williamson participated in a pregame scrimmage with Pelicans participant growth coaches and a few gamers on the finish of the roster, Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated on Thursday previous to New Orleans’ sport in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“But he’s playing in more of a controlled scrimmage. That where he’s progressed to,” Inexperienced stated. “Past that, there’s no update on him. He is where he is.”
Formally, Williamson has nonetheless been listed as out on the harm report, and the group says he stays out indefinitely.
Williamson progressed to one-on-one work on March 23 and lately traveled with New Orleans on the group’s most up-to-date four-game highway journey to proceed his rehab development with the Pelicans’ coaching employees.
“The beauty of it is that it’s good to see him on the floor,” Inexperienced added. “I think he’s feeling more normal, the fact that he gets to play basketball. That’s what he wants to do. That’s what he loves to do. We just want him to get as healthy as he can and continue to progress in that way.”
New Orleans has three video games remaining within the common season: Thursday at house in opposition to Portland, Saturday at Memphis after which again house on Sunday in opposition to Golden State.
The Pelicans have certified for the play-in event and can be within the 9-10 sport in opposition to San Antonio, though the host of that sport continues to be to be decided. If the Pelicans win that sport and beat the loser of the 7-8 sport, they’d advance to the playoffs for the primary time since 2017-18. Williamson has not performed in a sport this season after fracturing his proper foot within the offseason.
On Tuesday, Williamson’s stepdad, Lee Anderson, spoke to “The Jordy Culotta Show” in Baton Rouge and said that he “expects” Williamson to play this season.
“I expect him to play. If you were to ask Zion, I’m sure he would probably say the same thing,” Anderson stated. “But with just a couple of games left, with the magnitude of what’s going on in New Orleans and the opportunity to qualify for the play-in game and possibly get into a seven-game series, that would be off the charts in the city of New Orleans. That would be a plus in New Orleans. That would be a plus for Zion with the way things are right now.
“Do I anticipate him to play? Actually I do. That is on me, although. That is purely me. I do not assume there’s anything that will hinder him from doing that proper now.”
