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Zion Williamson made his long-awaited NBA debut with the New Orleans Pelicans, and if you stuck around to watch him for longer than three quarters, chances are you feel you got your time's worth.
In case you missed it or the endless highlights replayed across ESPN and other sports networks, here is a list of the top five moments from his NBA debut.
5. Zion's first NBA basket
Perhaps the tough moment for a rookie making his NBA debut is shaking the nerves and putting the ball through the net for the very first time. It was no different for Zion, as he tried to find his teammates open and turned the ball over upon starting the game, getting through the first quarter scoreless.
It wouldn't take long for him to make his presence known, though, out-scrapping the duo of Trey Lyles and Jakob Poeltl for position and following a Nickeil Alexander-Walker miss for a putback layup:
Zion's first NBA bucket! pic.twitter.com/fmWAFsCgU7
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 23, 2020
The monkey was finally off his back.
4. Zion skies for huge rebound over Jakob Poeltl, threads the needle to E'Twaun Moore
This was the start of the rally for the Pelicans. Zion found himself out of position but made use of his otherworldly athleticism to sky over 7-footer Jakob Poeltl, taking matters into his own hands and running the floor before darting a crosscourt pass so precise that it would make New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees proud:
Zion gets UP for the rebound and fires it to E'Twaun for the tough finish! pic.twitter.com/qBkGhMLILc
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 23, 2020
E'Twaun Moore was at the receiving end of it, managing to take it in stride and finish to cut the deficit to six with 9:20 left in the fourth period.
3. Zion hits his first 3-pointer
Williamson made plays with his tenacity and motor through the early stretch of the floor. A Spurs' zone defense was meant to counteract that, but Zion had an ace under his sleeve, hitting his first NBA triple with utter confidence after a sagging Patty Mills allowed him to have the look:
oh btw he hits those too 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rxkOfYrQIB
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 23, 2020
Zion's confidence only went up from here, having seen the ball go through the net with his first-ever NBA jumper as the Pelicans made their charge.
2. Zion pins DeMar DeRozan, finishes lob from Lonzo Ball through contact
Zion didn't get any showstopping dunks on his debut, but he wasn't short of exciting plays. Here he saw the mismatch against the smaller DeMar DeRozan, expertly pinning him out of position and catching the lob after calling for it:
Zo finds Zion over the top of everybody! pic.twitter.com/DpgAcqq2gw
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 23, 2020
The finish is what really makes it here. Zion intended to throw this one down, but faced some resistance from DeRozan's hip, as well as Patty Mills' body surrounding him. He adjusted mid-air for the lefty finish. Sweet as a beignet.
1. Zion goes off for 17 straight points in the 4th quarter
If you stuck around this long, you were undoubtedly rewarded, as Zion went on to hit not one, not two, not three, but four straight triples on his way to 17 straight points. The sweetest of all came against LaMarcus Aldridge, who somehow tentatively guarded him on the perimeter, even after he'd hit three straight from downtown:
SEVENTEEN. STRAIGHT. POINTS.
Zion cannot be stopped in the 4th quarter 😤 pic.twitter.com/NCG9fHW4OW
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 23, 2020
That trey over Aldridge marked 16 straight points, and he would add another point after splitting free throws and a consequent Pelicans timeout to take him out for good.
Williamson did not disappoint with his performance, giving the people in The Big Easy plenty to be excited for in games and years to come. Zion has indeed arrived.
