Zion Williamson posts Instagram video of monster between-the-legs dunk while recovering from foot injury

 

Zion Williamson's status has been one of the great mysteries of the 2021-22 season. When he was initially diagnosed with a fractured foot, he was expected to be available in time for the beginning of the season. And then he wasn't. The New Orleans Pelicans offered only vague and inconsistent updates. Williamson himself never spoke. And now, with the season coming to an end, it appears as though Williamson won't be returning to the floor at all. After missing most of his rookie year, his third season is on track to come and go without a minute of game time as well. 

Where that leaves Williamson moving forward, we can't say, but for the first time in months, the Pelicans forward gave fans a morsel of optimism. On his Instagram story, he posted this video of him doing a monster between-the-legs dunk.

Zion Williamson just posted this to his IG story: 

(And if you’re wondering if it’s recent, he’s wearing his new Zion 2 shoe in it)

As Andrew Lopez of ESPN notes, the video is recent. What exactly this means for Williamson's recovery is ultimately speculative. All we can say for certain is that he's capable of throwing down cool dunks in an empty gym. It remains unlikely that he returns to the court this season based on all prior reporting.

But just hearing from Williamson at all at this stage is meaningful because he's been practically invisible all season. He spent a good chunk of it recovering from his injury in Portland rather than New Orleans. He has rejoined the team and is participating in light workouts, but otherwise, one of the NBA's best players has largely been absent from the season as a whole. If nothing else, it's at least meaningful to know that he wants to get the message out there that he's still capable of incredible feats like this.

Yet another step in a positive direction for New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.

Wednesday, he was seen playing one-on-one with player development coach Corey Brewer, elevating on his jump shot, going off the dribble and dunking multiple times.

"We still have to be careful with how much he does. Just because he's still going through the healing process," said Pelicans coach Willie Green. "But we're happy that he's getting better ... I know it feels good for him to finally be able to get on the floor and doing some of the things he's doing."

That was apparent Tuesday night.

Williamson posted a five-second clip to his Instagram story showing him at the Pelicans facility throwing the ball off the backboard, catching it and going between his legs before finishing with a left-handed slam.

He returned to the New Orleans area on March 5 after spending two months in Portland continuing his rehab from a fractured right foot that has kept him out the entire 2021-22 season.

Prior to Wednesday, during the portions of practice that have been open to the media, Williamson has done just some light shooting -- without jumping -- with his player development coaches.

When asked directly if Williamson could still return this season, Green said the team didn't know that.

"As far as right now, the update is the update. Z is still out indefinitely," Green said. "We're still working being fully healthy, which he's not. But he's getting there. We'll update you guys at that point if we get to that point."

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

Instead, Williamson has suffered numerous setbacks throughout the season.

He was close to making a return in December and was set to undergo his first practice with the team Dec. 2, but instead, the Pelicans held him out and announced he was dialing back his progression to 5-on-5 work.

On Dec. 11, the team announced he was going to be dialed back even more, 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 at the start of this month.

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

While Williamson remains out, the Pelicans could get two players back from injuries as early as Thursday's home game against the Chicago Bulls.

Forward Larry Nance Jr, who had surgery on his right knee on Feb. 11, has yet to play for New Orleans since being brought over in the midseason trade that brought CJ McCollum to New Orleans.

Green said it "looks like we'll have" Nance back in the lineup and shortly after practice, Nance tweeted a GIF saying that he was back.

The status of forward Brandon Ingram, who has missed the past eight games with a strained right hamstring, is up in the air. Green said Ingram went through the non-contact portions of practice on Wednesday but they aren't sure if he'll return yet against the Bulls.