Former Orlando Magic star point guard and current Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway says New Orleans Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson is going to be a superstar in the NBA very soon.

Before the NBA got suspended because of the coronavirus, Williamson was putting up stellar numbers for the Pelicans. After missing the beginning of the season due to a knee injury which required surgery, Zion lived up to the billing of a No.1 overall pick.

“His ceiling is very high,” Hardaway said about Zion, via Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype. “I just think he’s going to be a superstar in the league for a very long time, and I’m happy to be able to witness everything that he’s doing right now.”

Through the first 19 games of his NBA career, Williamson was averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 58.9 percent from the floor, 46.2 percent from beyond the arc and 64.5 percent from the free-throw line.

The Pelicans went 10-9 with Williamson in the lineup and 28-36 overall prior to play being suspended. If the season resumes, New Orleans will be in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

When Williamson underwent left knee surgery before making his regular season NBA debut, Pelicans fans began to get scared that the Zion era was going to be a dud. However, the 2019 top draft pick rehabbed his injury hard and has been nothing short of spectacular since making his debut.

The Pelicans are fortunate to have Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball be the faces of the franchise in the post-Anthony Davis era.