Zion Williamson has been cleared to participate in full team activities, the New Orleans Pelicans announced on Friday.
Pelicans star Williamson is yet to feature in the NBA this season due to a right foot fracture, which required surgery in the offseason.
But the 2019 number one draft pick played four-on-four full court on Friday as the 2021 All-Star stepped up his comeback, though there is still no return timeline.
Williamson is entering his third year as a professional, however the 21-year-old has so far seen his hugely promising career hindered by injury.
Zion has been cleared to participate in full team activities
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 26, 2021
Williamson played 4-on-4 full court today and will continue his progression towards returning to play.
More Info: https://t.co/AHIPFnrrXZ pic.twitter.com/er2u9llVrW
The power forward did not make his NBA debut until January in the 2019-20 campaign after tearing his meniscus in his rookie preseason, while relatively minor issues limited Williamson to 61 games in 2020-21.
Despite concerns about the forward's durability, Williamson has excelled against NBA opposition.
After 22.5 points per game in his rookie year, he improved to 27.0 last season and will return on a streak of scoring 20 in 15 straight games.
Without Williamson this season, the struggling Pelicans have started the campaign 4-16 – the second worst record in the NBA behind the Houston Rockets (2-16).