New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has forged himself in the record books as one of the most efficient players in the league. Against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Williamson scored 32 points and shot 73 percent from the field, making him the youngest player to drop 30+ points on at least a 70 percent field goal percentage in consecutive games.
In the previous game, a 128-123 win over the Sacramento Kings, Williamson scored 31 points on a stellar 86.7 percent clip. Per ESPN, he's also the first player in Pelicans history to achieve this milestone.
Ahead of the Pelicans' game with the Jazz, statistics revealed that out of Williamson's 249 points in the season, 200 have been scored inside the paint.
While one may point out that Williamson has a limited offensive toolbox and therefore can easily be stopped, his skill and basketball IQ also has to be acknowledged. After all, the rest of the league should be pretty familiar with Williamson's playstyle by now. And yet the former first overall pick is still getting his way.
Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy is well aware of how much a good finisher Williamson is. He even believes that his prized sophomore should be getting to the free-throw line more often.
“He finds his way to the rim regardless of the defense and he's a good finisher,” New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy said, after their win over the Kings on Sunday, per the Associated Press via ESPN. “He probably should shoot twice as many free throws as he does. He's not even getting calls and he's efficient.”
Indeed, Williamson is a special talent and worth the hype. The next step is to see if he can help the Pelicans make waves over the next couple of years.