No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson is reportedly expected to begin contact drills and practices with the New Orleans Pelicans in the next week or two, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Williamson has started participating in on-court training exercises in recent weeks as the organization is also training Williamson to walk and run differently to work on the kinetic chain on his body.
As Charania reports, Williamson has progressed to 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills with coaches but has not yet been cleared for full contact activities, which could come close to mid-January.
The former Duke star has been traveling with the Pelicans on the road and has been seen putting up shots. The team has not set a definitive date for his return but Williamson has been making gradual progression.
Without Williamson this season, the Pelicans are 14th in the Western Conference and have posted a 9-23 record after defeating the Denver Nuggets on Christmas Day.
As speculation swirls on his potential return date, the Pelicans fully anticipate that Williamson will play this season and make his long-awaited NBA debut.
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