Pelicans’ Zion Williamson could make early return, suit up Sunday

Zion Williamson is suddenly back in the picture, and sooner than almost anyone expected.

Pelicans coach James Borrego said Williamson practiced Saturday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Chicago, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com.

That alone would be notable. The timing makes it more so.

Just 11 days ago, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Williamson was expected to miss at least three weeks with a right adductor injury that the team labeled a Grade 2 strain.

New Orleans did not provide a firm timetable at the time, which only added to the assumption that this would linger into January.

In fact, it nearly became accepted internally. The Athletic reported last week that some within the organization believed Williamson would not return until after the new year. Instead, he is already back on the practice floor and flirting with a return before mid-December.

That qualifies as a positive surprise in a career that has rarely followed optimistic timelines.

Williamson has missed the past six games with the adductor issue and also sat out eight games in November because of a left hamstring strain. Availability has long been the variable with him, not production.

When he has played this season, the numbers have been there. Through 10 games, the former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals in just under 31 minutes per game.

The Pelicans will take this carefully, as they always do. Listing Williamson as questionable does not guarantee he will suit up, and even if he does, expectations will be measured.

Still, for a team that has spent much of the early season operating without him, simply having Zion back in the conversation again is progress.