In full rehabilitation, Zion publishes video turning it over

The forward of the New Orleans Pelicans, Zion Williamsonhas tried to keep a low profile on social media as he rehabs from a broken right foot that has sidelined him for the entire 2021-22 season.

That changed Tuesday night.

Williamson posted a 5-second clip to his Instagram story showing him at the Pelicans’ facility launching the ball off the backboard, catching it and passing between his legs before finishing with a left-hand dunk.

Williamson returned to New Orleans on March 5 after spending two months in Portland continuing his rehabilitation.

Since he came back, the team didn’t clear him to do much on-field work. During the portions of practice that have been open to the media, Williamson has only taken a few light shots, with no jump shots, with his player development coaches.

The Pelicans have not provided an official update on Williamson’s condition since March 5, when the team said he was showing better signs of healing and would gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercises and basketball activities.

It was announced that Williamson suffered the fracture on media day in September, when there was optimism in both the front office and Williamson himself that he might be ready for the start of the regular season.

Instead, Williamson has suffered numerous setbacks throughout the season.

He came close to returning in December and was set to hold his first practice with the team on Dec. 2, but instead the Pelicans retained him and announced that he was reducing his progression to 5-on-5 work.

On December 11, the team announced that it was going back even further, and six days later he underwent an injection in his foot to help facilitate the healing process.

In January, he temporarily left the team to continue his rehab in Portland before returning earlier this month.

In three seasons, Williamson has played just 85 career games, including 24 in his rookie season when he missed the first 13 weeks of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Williamson’s original schedule for that injury was 6-8 weeks.