The best New Year’s news is Zion Williamson could reportedly return in January

The No. 1 overall pick could be back by the end of the month.

It’s the report we’ve all been waiting for: Zion Williamson could play in an NBA regular-season game in January.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who said the No. 1 overall pick could return to New Orleans Pelicans practice soon, and that “both sides are hopeful of a January season debut.” Remember, Williamson has been out after a head-turning preseason with a torn meniscus in his knee that required surgery.

Since then, NBA fans have been waiting patiently for Williamson to make his season debut. Along the way, we learned he’s being taught to walk and run differently to help his “kinetic chain” and that he’s back to dunking recently.

We could be seeing more of this soon:

The Pels are 11-23 with the second-worst record in the West, so getting Williamson back helps the franchise figure out how he fits in ahead of the NBA trade deadline next month — not because they’d trade him, but to see how he works with the current roster.

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