New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson entered the NBA with an insane amount of hype, perhaps the most since LeBron James. An injury-riddled rookie campaign slowed down the hype train a bit, though he did put up insane numbers during his 24-game rookie season. With how Year 2 is going so far for the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, Zion Williamson has finally arrived — and he isn't here to take part, he is here to take over.
The 6-foot-7, 284-pound tank has been nothing short of dominant for the Pelicans as of late. He certainly showcased that in their most recent win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, improving to 4-0 against last year's Rookie of the Year Ja Morant in their four career encounters so far.
Williamson dropped 31 points on an efficient 13-of-16 shooting clip as he dominated inside the paint for New Orleans. Not only did he flex his muscles inside, he also showed his improved playmaking skills, adding six assists to go along with seven rebounds in the 31-point drubbing of Memphis. These numbers put him in rare air:
Zion Williamson finished with 31 pts on 13-16 FG in a win Tuesday night vs Memphis.
It was his 4th game this season scoring 30+ pts on 75 FG pct. No other player has more than 1. His 4 such games are already the most by a player in a season since Dwight Howard in 2010-11 (4) pic.twitter.com/0Nko60lJ46
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 17, 2021
In his first season as head coach of the Pelicans, Stan Van Gundy emphasized that he wanted Zion Williamson to be a more focal point of their offense, which entails utilizing him in a multitude of ways. While the majority of Williamson's shots still come at the basket, we have seen the former Duke star play on the perimeter more this season and initiate the offense for New Orleans. This has only given the 20-year-old more opportunities to expand his game.
Check this out:
Zion Williamson tore the Grizzlies apart in actions where JJ Redick was screening for him. Check out some of the plays from tonight.#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/EOrhTndgDz
— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) February 17, 2021
He still hasn't showcased a reliable outside shot, but that should come with more time and more reps. Nevertheless, he hasn't settled on taking jumpers and has been aggressive in getting to the cup. As mentioned, most of his shots come from within the restricted area. With his frame and explosiveness, it's certainly going to be hard for defenders to stop the locomotive from getting into the lane. His aggressiveness has either led to efficient shots at the rim, getting himself to the foul line, where he is shooting a slightly better percentage from a year ago, or creating open shots for his teammates.
Most importantly, Zion Williamson just looks more comfortable and more in control of his game in Year 2. He's playing much smarter and knows when to get his own and when to get his teammates involved. It's certainly looking more like the game is slowing down.
Williamson has already played more games in his second NBA season than he did last year. He definitely looks healthier this year and is playing without any restrictions. This has only unleashed the beast inside him even further. In 26 games this season, Williamson is turning in averages of 24.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 61.5 percent from the field and 71.6 percent from the foul line.
What's puzzling, though, is that there has been considerably less hype surrounding Williamson this season. It's just no longer at the fever-pitch level as it was a year ago, when he made his NBA debut three months into his rookie campaign. This likely has something to do with the Pelicans' early struggles, and it's worth pointing out that Zion's defense has played a role in this.
But with the way the youngster is exploding as the offensive focal point in his sophomore year, let's bring back the same hype and energy for the 20-year-old kid. Zion Williamson is special, and his dominance means better days are ahead in New Orleans.
Follow Us
Subscribe