"Healthy and ready" - Patrick Williams in good spirits as lengthy foot recovery commences

The young forward eyes a healthy and successful campaign after he recovers from the injury.

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Patrick Williams Bulls' power forward, developed a foot stress reaction in his bone edema, which ultimately required him to undergo a season-ending surgery — cutting his fourth NBA season short in which he averaged 10.0 points and 3.9 boards in 44.3 percent shooting for 43 games.

The Paw cleaning the boards 🧼@NBCSChicago | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/IgMxexvYQE

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 9, 2023

While the injury has barred him from contributing towards the Bulls’ push for the playoffs and upcoming restricted free agency, Williams remains optimistic that he'll be able to bounce back stronger from this.

Trust the process

As the clock is now ticking and the early stage of his lengthy rehab has started, Pat is just keeping his head high that he'll be able to regain his footing. For now, he is committed to supporting the Bulls’ season rally while targeting a healthier, much-ready campaign for the 2024-25 season.

“It’s coming along. It’s killing me that I can’t play after some of the games we’ve had, some losses we’ve had. Also, (after tough a win) last night, just how fun it is. Being in the (United Center), feeling the crowd and being around, you just want to be in those moments. But for me, my mindset is fully getting healthy for next season, healthy and ready,” he told Justin Quinn of Bulls Wire.

Optimistic for a healthy Bulls team

Throughout Chicago's roller coaster year filled with injuries, Pat became the second Bull to get sidelined for a year. He joined star swingman Zach LaVine who also underwent a season-ending foot surgery of his own back in January.

As such, he expressed confidence that once they are healthy and fully available as a team, the Bulls are standing boldly with tremendous talent and limitless promise.

“When everybody comes back, I think we have so much talent on the team, it doesn’t allow everybody to really blossom into who they are as a person and as a player,” he said.

“But when you do that, and the team comes back, I think everybody keeps that same confidence level, that same confidence. And their skill, what they bring to the game, which they might not have been able to experience before. So, I think it’s only going to make that much better.”

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