He might not play this season but Zion Williamson’s injury rehab appears to be going well. After months of inactivity on social media, the former Duke star posted a video of himself throwing down an impressive between the legs alley-oop dunk on Instagram.
The video will be a relief to Zion and New Orleans fans alike. The third-year player has been plagued by foot injuries since college but he looks to be jumping and landing on his feet just fine.
The former first overall pick is seen alone in the Pelicans training facility. He throws himself a pass off the backboard, grabs it, goes between the legs and finishes with a left-handed flush.
Those with a keen eye will notice the floor moving when Zion goes for liftoff. Most NBA courts have padding underneath the hardwood to minimise the impact players that players experience. NBA rims are also padded to protect players from injury. Dr Brian Sutterer breaks down the physics behind the dunk in the clip below.
Williamson spent the first half of the season rehabbing with a personal trainer in Portland. He recently rejoined the Pelicans but was ruled out from returning to the court this season. New Orleans have gone 30-42 without Williamson but remain in contention for a play-in spot.
There were concerns that the forward would leave New Orleans for the bright lights of New York. Those rumors were addressed in a January press conference where Williamson explained he was focusing on his rehab and looking forward to representing the Pelicans in the future.
Williamson was selected by New Orleans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Injury has caused Williamson to play just 85 career games over three seasons. He has career averages of 25.7 points on 60.4% shooting along with 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Williamson had an outstanding freshman year at Duke. He earned consensus National Player of the Year honors after averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks.
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How tall is Zion Williamson?
Zion Williamson is 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m).
How much does Zion Williamson weigh?
Zion Williamson is officially listed at 284 pounds (128.8 kg). Reports surfaced in December that he had reached 330 pounds (150 kg) but recent showings appear to indicate that he has slimmed down to his regular playing weight.
Is Zion Williamson injured?
Zion Williamson is recovering from a fractured right foot. It is anticipated that he will return to the court for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2022-23 season.
What happened to Zion Williamson?
Zion Williamson underwent surgery for a fractured right foot in the 2021 offseason. His recovery did not go as planned with Zion forced to sit out the entire 2021-22 season.
What team is Zion Williamson on?
Zion Williamson plays as a forward for the New Orleans Pelicans.
When is Zion Williamson coming back?
Zion Williamson (fractured foot) is expected to be fit for the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.
