One of the NBA’s most exciting young players, Zion Williamson, has yet to touch the court for the New Orleans Pelicans this season due to a preseason foot injury.
However, with just a few weeks left in the season, Williamson is taking a step closer to a full return to the team.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Williamson is set to join the Pelicans for their entire multi-game road trip to the west coast, the first time he’s joined the team for such an occasion all season.
As Charania noted, there is still no timetable for Williamson’s return, but he calls the road trip with the team “steps in the right direction.”
The road trip Williamson is a part of will feature games against the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Sacramento Kings. Williamson was also cleared to progress in basketball activities by the Pelicans earlier this month.
However, it’s appearing increasingly unlikely that Williamson will play at all for the Pelicans this season. New Orleans only has seven games remaining this season, with the team’s last regular-season match scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 10, against the Golden State Warriors.
A potential playoff run could give Williamson more time to return to action, but that would require the Pelicans to win a play-in game, as they currently sit ninth in the Western Conference with a record 32-43, but just one game ahead of the 11-seed Lakers.
The first game of the Pelicans’ road trip against the Blazers (27-48) will take place on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. EST.
