New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has yet to make his NBA debut, as he's still recovering from an arthroscopic knee procedure that was performed back in October. While Williamson has passed his initial recovery timetable of 6-8 weeks and doesn't seem all that close to a return, the Pelicans still expect him to play this season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Williamson is reportedly expected to begin contact drills and practices within the next week or two. There is still not a timetable set for his return, but he's clearly showing signs of progression. He has apparently improved his eating habits and is working with New Orleans on refining how he runs and moves around the court. As he progresses to on-court work with coaches, there's hope he's cleared for full contact in mid-January.

Zion Williamson will likely be a great addition to the Pelicans' rotation — when he's finally cleared to play. In his 33 collegiate games with the Blue Devils, the South Carolina native racked up averages of 22.6 points on 68.0 percent shooting from the field (33.8 percent from beyond the arc), 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks in 30.0 minutes per outing.

The Pelicans have struggled through the early stages of this season, as their 9-23 overall record can attest. They'll be back in action on Saturday, when they'll serve as hosts to the Indiana Pacers.