Billy Donovan reveals Patrick Williams remains without a timeline for a return

Williams' future this season remains cloudy.

© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan shared an update regarding the health status of forward Patrick Williams, and it wasn’t rosy.

Sidelined for the last two weeks after getting diagnosed with acute bone edema in his left foot, Williams will try to run and cut not long after the All-Star break, and then he’ll be re-evaluated then. This development almost assures the Bulls that Williams will not be immediately available once action resumes on February 22.

Williams to get better at recognizing when to get treatment

The young forward played all 82 regular season games last season and appeared to be intent on replicating the feat again this season. However, there’s a fine line between being tough and foolish, and Williams may have crossed it. 

Coach Donovan emphasized the importance of recognizing when to seek treatment in order to prevent further injury. It seems that Williams may have pushed himself too far and ignored signs of discomfort in his foot.

“I think Patrick has got to get better at when he has ailments and issues, not that he’s not getting treatment, but sometimes – and I’m not saying that this was the issue (with the current left foot injury) – but he’s got to really make sure that he’s not taking himself to a point where he’s putting himself in harm’s way health-wise,” Donovan said.

Regarding Patrick Williams, Donovan said he doesn’t have discomfort walking and hope is at tail end of All-Star break that team can ramp him up with physical activity. It’s unlikely he’d play against Boston, the first game out of break. When he plays depends on how ramp up goes.

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 14, 2024

Missing Williams

An athletic 6-foot-7 forward with a knack for playing defense, Williams is an integral part of the Bulls’ rotation. Although the fourth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft hasn’t panned out in a way that many expected, he has shown flashes of potential that make him a valuable asset to the team. 

Before getting sidelined in January, Williams was coming off a stellar showing in December, where he averaged 14.1 points on 52 percent shooting.

“I feel bad for Patrick because I really felt like he was playing with the ankle for a period of time, but before that, he was okay,” Donovan said.

“I felt like he was doing a pretty good job with the way he was playing, his motor, his force. How long it takes him to get back? His conditioning, his timing? It will be interesting.”

Billy Donovan said timetable for Patrick Williams (left foot) is still up in the air. Doesn’t expect him ready out of the All-Star Break. Not great news for PWill. Season-ender has not been discussed.

— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) February 14, 2024

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