New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry says the franchise is doing the right thing by limiting rookie Zion Williamson's minutes.
Williamson played 18:18 in his debut against the San Antonio Spurs and 20:57 versus the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans lost both games despite excellent contributions from Williamson, who has shot 15-of-20 from the field in his first two games — the highest field goal percentage through two games out of any player in the shot clock era, according to the Elias Sports Bureau:
“It's the way we've decided, it's best for him right now and that's what we're going to stick to,” Alvin Gentry said, via ESPN.
“I know everybody gets real excited, and I hear every night that I'm the dumbest coach in the world about why would I take the guy out in the game of the last 5 minutes or 6 minutes? So I'll live with that knowing that we're doing the right thing.
“I think he's shown he's getting more of a feel. The speed of the game and all of that. So we just got to be patient enough to understand to let him get to the point where he can play a normal rotation minutes. We will not deviate from that at all. If it will be a few more games, then that's what it's going to be and we just gotta understand.”
The Pelicans are 17-29 on the season. They are in 12th place in the Western Conference standings.
Williamson is averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists through two games. He's shooting 75.0 percent from the floor, 80.0 percent from beyond the arc and 37.5 percent from the free-throw line.
The Pelicans are in action again on Sunday when they take on the Boston Celtics. Expect New Orleans to be cautious with Williamson for the foreseeable future.
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