Bulls guard Jay Williams continues to make progress in his recovery from a devastating motorcycle accident, and he is expected to return to Chicago for a news conference in the next few weeks.

Williams likely will declare his goal of playing during the 2004-05 season, though doubt remains as to whether he will return to the level he played at before the June 19 accident.

''He's doing real good right now,'' said Kevin Bradbury, who is Williams' longtime friend and business associate. ''He's excited and happy.''

Williams, who turned 22 on Wednesday, suffered multiple injuries in the accident in West Lake View. He has undergone at least two surgeries, including one on his fractured pelvis and one on his left knee.

It was feared Williams' career was in jeopardy after just one NBA season because of extensive nerve damage. Former Duke teammate Carlos Boozer said Williams couldn't feel his left leg several days after the accident.

The Bulls acknowledge Williams will not play during the upcoming season, which opens with training camp on Sept. 30. When Bulls operations chief John Paxson drafted Kansas guard Kirk Hinrich on June 26, it was considered a sign the Bulls did not expect Williams to return at all, though Paxson said that wasn't the case.

Williams' mother, Althea, said drafting a former college rival like Hinrich generated even more determination in Williams to return.

''We'll just stay open to the possibility of Jay returning after this season, and we'll go from there,'' Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said Friday. ''We know it's going to be a long road for him. It's a tough injury.