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The effortless chemistry between Lonzo Ball and New Orleans Pelicans No. 1 pick Zion Williamson has been undeniable in his 19 games in the league.
Many had grown giddy with the prospect of a tall point guard with great vision throwing lobs to a 6-foot-6 skywalker who's made a career out of thunderous dunks. Williamson has done a great job finishing those airborne connections, at times surprised by their innate chemistry.
“Honestly, sometimes I don't even think he's going to throw it, but then he just throws it,” the Pelicans rookie phenom said after a March 8 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I'm like, ‘All right, let me try and go get it.' He does a great job even though they're from so far away. He just puts it, like, in a spot like he's throwing a lob from the close elbow. He puts it in the perfect spot, and I just go get it.”
Even teammates like Jrue holiday have noticed how fluid their movements are on the court:
“They just have this connection,” said starting shooting guard Jrue Holiday, according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN. “It's kind of like a quarterback and receiver. It's like, where he throws it, I'm not saying Zion can't jump out the gym, but he places in the right place, Zo does. I love to see it.”
Perhaps their finest effort came on a 56.9-foot lob on Feb. 2 against the Houston Rockets that came from three-quarters-court distance.
Ball and Williamson are the first duo with three such connections since Second Spectrum started tracking lob distance.
“I knew I could throw it,” Ball, who developed nicely for the Pelicans, said then, “I just wanted to see if he could catch it.”
How did that work out?
“I don't think he's missed one yet.”
