Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Patrick Williams is close to “linear running”. Williams suffered an ankle injury in a non-team-related basketball situation. His reported recovery timeline was set at four to six weeks retroactive to September 15.
If Williams is only out for four weeks, he should be ready to go by the season opener against Detroit on October 20. While the team obviously will not rush him back into action, the Bulls would like to enter the season at full strength. Williams started all 71 games for the Bulls in 2020-21. He made the All-NBA Rookie Second Team and averaged 9.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.4 APG. Williams shot 48% from the field and 39% from downtown.
In the 2021 NBA Summer League, Williams displayed exciting potential. The second-year forward out of Florida State averaged 34.3 MPG, 21.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG. Williams shot 37% from the field, 80% from the free-throw line, and 43.8% from three-point range. He made his presence known not only on offense but also on the defensive side of the ball.
Patrick Williams is an important building block for the Bulls’ long-term future and for their competitive aspirations in 2021-22 as well. He will move to his natural position at power forward and serve as a key versatile defensive presence. Hopefully for Williams and the Bulls, he will his injury will heal at the four-week mark to get him back on the court as soon as possible.
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