All eyes will be on New Orleans Pelicans rookie sensation and No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson as he makes the transition to the NBA.
Williamson has never shied away from big expectations. He was a YouTube sensation at the age of 15, and he was one of the most scrutinized collegiate athletes of all time. On top of that, the hype train surrounding his rookie season is unlike anything since LeBron James entered the league in 2003.
However, there is probably nobody that is as ambitious about Williamson's potential as the man himself. In an interview with some of the lottery rookies, Williamson said he expects to win Rookie of the Year with averages of 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists:
Zion Williamson and other NBA rookies predict their first-year stats and share their goals for the 2019-20 season: pic.twitter.com/R26ZUcyULu
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) September 26, 2019
Of course, given the rather satirical nature of the clip, these predictions should obviously be taken with a grain of salt. However, that stat line feels attainable for Williamson.
The Spartanburg, SC native averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds as a freshman at Duke while shooting an absurd 68 percent from the floor, all while being the second scoring option behind R.J. Barrett.
New Orleans will have plenty of room to grow this season. Jrue Holiday is a bona fide, two-way star, and head coach Alvin Gentry will be counting on the veteran to take guys like Lonzo Ball and Williamson under his wing.
The Pelicans will have to compete in a reloaded Western Conference, and much of their potential success hinges on whether or not Williamson can make significant strides in his first season.
But nobody understands that better than Zion.
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