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Zion Williamson reportedly cleared for basketball activities, returning to Pelicans

liz roscher
Staff writer
·3 min read
69

We're one step closer to seeing Zion Williamson back on a basketball court again.

According to Shams Charania and Will Guillory of The Athletic, Williamson has been cleared to start basketball activities and will be returning to the New Orleans Pelicans.

This is great news for Williamson, the Pelicans and fans. Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that Williamson might need a second surgery. Now, just like that, he's back on track to possibly appear in a game before the end of the season. And with the Pels surging into a play-in position in recent days, news of Williamson's possible return couldn't come at a better time.

Zion out since last year

Williamson hasn't appeared in an NBA game since May 4, 2021. Right before summer league during the offseason, Williamson fractured his foot, which required surgery. The Pelicans revealed this near the end of September 2021, and they said they hoped he'd be back in time for the regular season. He wasn't back in time for that, but he was making progress. By the middle of November he'd been cleared for one-on-one workouts, and by the end of the month he'd been cleared for full basketball activities.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 13: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court prior to the start of a NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Smoothie King Center on November 13, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson of the Pelicans has reportedly been cleared for basketball activities after rehabbing a fractured foot for around eight months. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

But that's when Williamson stopped progressing forward and started moving backward. Just five days after being cleared for full basketball activities, he experienced soreness in his surgically repaired right foot. The soreness persisted and he was shut down from all basketball activities. He eventually got an injection in his foot, but by early January the Pelicans said that Williamson wasn't even rehabbing with the team — he was rehabbing in Portland, Oregon. while still under the team's care.

Then we stopped hearing about Williamson for awhile — though we did find out that he and C.J. McCollum, the Pels' newest acquisition, hadn't even spoken since he'd joined the team. We also found out that Williamson's foot was continuing to have healing issues. Near the end of February, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that he may need a second surgery on his right foot, which would almost certainly put him out of commission for the rest of the season.

Which is why Saturday's news is such a welcome and unexpected surprise. With setback after setback, no one really expected to see Williamson at all this season, so finding out that he's closer than ever to coming back is exciting. Williamson may need time to shake off the rust and get back up to speed, but that version of Zion is miles better than an injured Zion.