For New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, timing is everything when it comes to Zion Williamson's eagerly anticipated career debut.

"He's making progress," Gentry said of the sidelined phenom Friday, according to ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "He's practicing. He's playing five-on-five. We're trying to gauge exactly when it would be a good situation to put him out there.

"Even when we do, it'll be very limited minutes to start."

The highly touted No. 1 overall pick has been out since October after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn right lateral meniscus, delaying the start of his rookie campaign.

Improbably, the Pelicans' season is far from over despite their paltry 14-25 record. In a top-heavy Western Conference, where the 17-22 Memphis Grizzlies currently occupy the eighth seed, New Orleans sits just three games behind a postseason berth - without the team's future franchise star having played a single minute.