Zion Williamson is expected to return to game action in the upcoming weeks, according to the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.
Speaking with ESPN New Orleans 100.3 on Friday, David Griffin provided an update on the team's rookie star, who was sidelined with a knee injury back in October. Griffin reassured fans the No. 1 overall draft pick was making great progress as he recovers from surgery and will likely get back on the court before the year's end.
"He's progressing exactly as we had hoped he would," Griffin told the station. "We're really optimistic, and most importantly, Zion is really excited and that's where we want him to be."
Though he has yet to make his regular season debut, Williamson played four preseason games with the Pelicans, averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals.
"The physical part is easy for him," Griffin continued. "He has an incredibly high basketball IQ. He loves being a teammate and getting better. He's really rare among truly elite young players in that he enjoys the process of getting better. He loves the process of learning the game."
The 19-year-old athlete underwent arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 21 to repair a torn right lateral meniscus. Around the time of the procedure, New Orleans announced Williamson would be out for six to eight weeks. Griffin said the latter timeframe is much more likely.
"Right now, I think we're on target for eight weeks," the Pelicans exec told ESPN New Orleans 100.3. "Probably not to the day, but in and around that."
