Rookie sensation Zion Williamson hasn't made his debut with the Pelicans yet, as the former Duke standout has been recovering from a knee injury. If it were up to him, though, he would've already been playing.

“If it was up to me, I would have been out there two weeks ago,” Williamson said on Thursday, via Scott Kushner of The Times Picayune.

Williamson's recovery process has gone a bit slower than expected, but it sounds like he's itching to make his NBA debut. The Pelicans, however, are naturally taking a cautious approach with their No. 1 overall pick. There is simply no sense in sending him onto the floor until he's 100 percent. Though he's still without an official timetable, some experts believe Zion could be ready sometime this month.

A positive sign: Williamson went through a full practice session on Thursday. The team would like for him to get through a few more such practice sessions before clearing him to play, according to ESPN.

A source within the organization told ESPN that before Williamson makes his on-court return, the team would like him to undergo at least two or three practices doing full work. A source told Sedano the team is targeting just after the new year for those practices.

So long as he can come back healthy, Williamson will be a solid addition to the Pelicans' roster. He averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds on 71.4 percent shooting for New Orleans in four preseason games, though he missed the final game due to knee soreness. He underwent surgery on October 21, just one day before the start of the regular season.

The Pelicans will be back in action on Friday night, when they'll take on the Lakers inside the Staples Center.