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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider NBA: Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson participates in first 5-on-5 practice since surgery

NBA: Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson participates in first 5-on-5 practice since surgery

Published Jan 8, 2020 12:00 am
By Field Level Media-Reuters New Orleans Pelicans rookie power forward Zion Williamson participated in 5-on-5 drills at practice on Tuesday for the first time since undergoing right knee surgery on Oct. 21. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) stands on the court before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. (Darren Yamashita / USA TODAY Sports) New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) stands on the court before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. (Darren Yamashita / USA TODAY Sports) Williamson, the top pick in the draft, will also be on a minutes' restriction once he is cleared to play in games. He initially won't play in back-to-back contests as well. "It's not worth the gamble of just trying to make this thing something that it's not right now," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "We want to make sure that everything is in place and we'll take our time. Obviously he's not going to come out and be a 30-minute-a-game guy. It's going to be a slow process to get him to the minutes that everybody wants to see him." The date of Williamson's NBA debut remains unknown. "We're hoping that it's soon," Gentry said. The plan calls for Williamson to participate in more full practices before he's ready to go. That won't be an easy task with the team about to start a stretch of four games in six days, with the last three on the road. Gentry also is concerned about the expectation level, particularly for a 19-year-old who will have missed roughly half the season. "We got a glimpse of what we think he could be in the preseason, but obviously the regular season is much different," Gentry said. "He's going to be a really good player. It doesn't matter time-wise, but we know that that's going to happen. As coaches, as administrators, as fans, we just have to be a little bit patient. It's not anything that'll happen overnight." Williamson shot 71.4 percent while averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in four preseason games. He reported knee soreness to the club and was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus. The initial timetable for his return was six to eight weeks. New Orleans is 12-25 this season but has played well lately with six wins in the past nine games.
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