New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson tried to keep a low profile on social media while rehabilitating a fractured right leg that kept him out of the entire 2021-22 season.
That changed on Tuesday night.
Williamson posted a five-second clip to his Instagram Story showing him throwing the ball off the backboard at the Pelicans' facility, catching it and going between his legs before finishing with a left-handed slam.
Williamson returned to the New Orleans area on March 5 after spending two months continuing his rehab in Portland.
Since then, the team has not sanctioned him for doing much work on the court. During parts of the practice, which is open to the media, Williamson does some light shooting - without jumping - 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 bone healing and would gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercises and basketball activities.
It was announced that Williamson suffered a fracture at Media Day in September, when there was optimism from both the front office and Williamson that he might be ready for the start of the regular season.
Instead, Williamson has suffered several setbacks throughout the season.
He was close to returning in December and was set to have his first practice with the team on December 2, but instead, the Pelicans stopped him and announced that he would dial his progress back to 5-on-5 work. Has been doing.
On December 11, the team announced that he would be dialed in even further, and six days later he administered an injection to his leg 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 only 85 career games, including 24 as a rookie after he missed the first 13 weeks of the season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. Williamson's original timeline for that injury was 6-8 weeks.