"Reggie Williams defied gravity Wednesday, which has to be the most fun he's had since signing with the Charlotte Bobcats in the preseason.

Three weeks removed from surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, Williams was cleared to start running. But with a catch - he'd need to use the Bobcats' Alter-G machine, which reduces gravity's effect on the legs.

Williams ran for 15 minutes with his legs wrapped in a bag full of compressed air. That allowed him to run on a treadmill without any pounding to his joints.

"Didn't feel like I was running," he said, comparing the experience to space-walk videos. "Then I got out and said, 'Oh yeah - my wind.' ""