Category: Zion

Report: Pelicans have a target date for Zion to return to practice

As Zion Williamson ramps up his recovery efforts, the organization has a date in mind for when the No. 1 pick will return to practice.

No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson has started participating in on-court training exercises in recent weeks with the New Orleans Pelicans and is making progress in his recovery from knee surgery.

Jorge Sedano of ESPN reported on Wednesday night that the process for Williamson has been more about just recovering from knee surgery on Oct. 21. The organization is also training Williamson to walk and run differently to work on the kinetic chain on his body.

Williamson has been seen publicly doing shooting drills and he has also gone through group drills but he has not yet started 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 workouts. Williamson participated last week in an extended workout with team coaches running up and down the court and going through plays.

As Williamson ramps up his recovery efforts, the Pelicans would eventually like the former Duke star to participate in two or three practices before making his debut. The team expects Williamson, per Sedano’s report, to begin those practices shortly after the new year.

A source within the organization told ESPN that before Williamson makes his on-court return, the team would like him to undergo at least two or three practices doing full work. A source told Sedano the team is targeting just after the new year for those practices.

The Pelicans have stated that they will not rush Williamson back to the court in order to ensure he is 100% healthy. They are prioritizing his long-term health and future, which is also why the team is working on re-programming his body by changing the way he walks and runs.

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.

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Jrue Holiday gifts Zion, Pelicans suits as Christmas Day present

Thanks to Holiday, the Pelicans will be arriving in Denver with two new, custom-made suits.

As the New Orleans Pelicans prepare for just their third Christmas Day game, the players on the team will be arriving in Denver having just received a gift from teammate Jrue Holiday.

The Pelicans’ social media team posted a video Tuesday night showing Holiday presenting his teammates with two new custom-made suits each on the team plane for the Christmas holiday.

“If you want to look good, it’s on me,” Holiday said. “Merry Christmas!”

Christmas Day is one of 30 nationally televised games for the Pelicans this season, a franchise record. Of course, that is in large part due to the arrival of Zion Williamson, who will not be playing against the Nuggets.

Williamson is still recovering from knee surgery on Oct. 21 but has started to travel with the Pelicans on the road. On Friday, Williamson was seen putting up shots with the team prior to facing the Golden State Warriors.

With the Pelicans struggling at just 8-23 this season, speculation has grown that the organization should trade Holiday. The team is said to be not actively looking to trade Holiday but if they were to be presented with a mammoth offer, they could look to do so.

In any case, with his future with the organization in question, Holiday still supported his teammates this holiday season by presenting them with two new suits.

Holiday and the Pelicans face the Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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Zion Williamson put up shots on the road with the Pelicans

The No. 1 overall pick has been traveling with the Pelicans on the road after undergoing knee surgery on Oct. 21.

No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson is back on the court.

The New Orleans Pelicans rookie has been traveling with the team on the road as he recovers from knee surgery and was seen on Friday night putting up shots prior to a matchup against the Golden State Warriors.

After going under the knife on Oct. 21, Williamson was seen for the first time this week on the practice court taking set shots. The appearance by Williamson on Friday was the second time he has been seen shooting.

Williamson was initially given a 6-8 week timetable to return to the floor for the Pelicans as Monday marked eight weeks since undergoing surgery. The Pelicans have not provided an updated timetable for Williamson though team officials have said that they will not rush him back.

Williamson returning to the court is certainly an encouraging sign in his recovery. In the video posted by the Pelicans’ social media team, Williamson is seen putting weight on his right knee during the shot, the same knee he had surgery on.

Speculation has swirled recently on when Williamson may return. Some have suggested Williamson won’t return until after the new year while others believe the Pelicans should just hold him out for the entire season.

In any case, Williamson appears to be in good spirits following his surgery.

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Zion Williamson returns to the court, takes jumpers at shootaround

The appearance by Williamson was the first time the No. 1 pick has been seen working on the court since undergoing knee surgery on Oct. 21.

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson was seen on Tuesday taking jump shots on the court at shootaround with his teammates as recovers from knee surgery.

The appearance by Williamson was the first time the No. 1 pick has been seen working on the court since undergoing knee surgery on Oct. 21 to address a torn right lateral meniscus.

Williamson was initially given a 6-8 week timetable to return though it has been reported that the former Duke star will “definitely” return after that timeframe.

With Williamson set to return after the initial timeline, speculation has swirled that he will not play until after the new year or will not play this season altogether.

Monday marked eight weeks since Williamson underwent surgery.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry stated two weeks ago that Williamson had not yet started on-court work though he was seen on Tuesday shooting standstill jumpers.

The organization has long stated that they will not rush Williamson back and will ensure that he is fully healthy before playing again. Once Williamson is cleared to return, he will likely play on a minutes restriction and will not play in back-to-back games.

While an updated timeline has not been provided by the Pelicans, the video of Williamson shooting on Tuesday shows that he appears to be progressing in his recovery.

The Pelicans host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

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Report: Zion Williamson will return after initial 6-8 week timetable

Zion Williamson will reportedly return to the court after the initial 6-8 week timetable following knee surgery on Oct. 21.

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson will reportedly return to the court after the initial 6-8 week timetable given by the organization, according to Kristen Ledlow of Turner Sports.

As the Pelicans hosted the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night on TNT, Ledlow updated viewers that the No. 1 overall pick has not suffered any setbacks in his recovery following knee surgery on Oct. 21 but will “definitely” return to the court outside of the 6-8 week window.

Monday marked six weeks since Williamson underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a torn right lateral meniscus. Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said that the former Duke star has not started on-court work yet and the organization will not rush him back. However, Ledlow stated on the broadcast that Williamson has begun doing some light work on the court.

The Pelicans have long stated that they will not rush Williamson back following his knee surgery so the news on Tuesday night may not be all that surprising. Given his injury history over the past year, the Pelicans want to make sure Williamson is 100% ready to play once they clear him.

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Zion Williamson still hasn’t started on-court work after knee surgery

Monday marked six weeks since Zion Williamson underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a torn right lateral meniscus.

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said on Monday that No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson hasn’t started on-court activities yet after undergoing knee surgery on Oct. 21.

Monday marked six weeks since Williamson underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a torn right lateral meniscus. Williamson was initially given a 6-8 week timetable to return to play.

Gentry told reporters on Nov. 21 that the organization would not rush Williamson back to the court and added that his recovery is on time and going smoothly.

On Monday, Gentry reiterated that stance, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.

I think he is fine. I don’t think it’s anything that can be rushed. I think it’s a timing thing. Six weeks is what we said but, obviously, he is making progress. When the time comes for him to start on-court [activities] and things like that, he will. It’s not anything that is going to be rushed. It’s just a matter of taking the time to make sure he’s fine.

Williamson previously suffered an injury to his right knee last season while playing at Duke after he attempted to make a cut on the floor when his Nike shoe blew out.

He also suffered a bone bruise on his left knee that limited him to just one game in Summer League so the Pelicans will certainly take their time with his recovery.

Without Williamson, the Pelicans are 6-14 this season.

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Alvin Gentry: Pelicans will not rush Zion Williamson back from injury

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry reiterated on Thursday that the organization will not rush Zion Williamson back after knee surgery.

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said on Thursday that the organization will not rush first-round pick Zion Williamson back from knee surgery.

The No.1 overall selection underwent arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 21 to address a torn right lateral meniscus and was given a 6-8 week timetable to return, which would have him returning to the court in early December.

Williamson told a group of reporters on Nov. 7 in his first public appearance since the surgery that he is taking his rehab day by day, adding that he would not rush back to the court.

On Thursday, his head coach reiterated that statement.

Everything is fine. Everything is progressing as it should. It’s a time thing. We’re not going to rush it and he’s not going to rush it. As far as the progress that he’s making, everything is fine and right on time.

Williamson previously suffered an injury to his right knee last season at Duke after he attempted to make a cut on the floor when his Nike shoe blew out. He also suffered a bone bruise on his left knee that limited him to just one game in Summer League so the Pelicans will certainly take their time with his recovery.

Without Williamson, the Pelicans are 5-9 this season after winning four out of their last six games heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns.

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Zion Williamson is still reppin’ Jordan Brand off of the court

Zion Williamson hasn’t yet suited up during the regular season for the Pelicans but the No. 1 overall pick is still endorsing Jordan Brand.

Zion Williamson hasn’t yet suited up during the regular season for the New Orleans Pelicans but the No. 1 overall pick is still endorsing Jordan Brand off of the court.

Of course, Williamson inked a five-year, $75 million endorsement deal with Jordan Brand over the summer to become the new face of the apparel company. He helped launch the new Air Jordan XXXIV in September and has also appeared in a new commercial for the shoe.

While Williamson is still likely at least a month away, at the earliest, from returning to the court, he is still rockin’ Jordan Brand at Pelicans home games as he has been seen entering the arena wearing the Jumpman logo on a few different occasions.

Speaking for the first time publicly a few weeks ago, Williamson said that his recovery has been going well and that he is taking it day by day. The Pelicans originally provided a timetable to return in 6-8 weeks from his surgery date, which would be around the middle of December at the earliest.

In the meantime, Williamson will continue wearing the latest gear from Jordan.

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