The Pelicans are currently 12th in the Western Conference. While that may look bad on the surface, the Pelicans are only a few games out of the playoffs. The New Orleans Pelicans started off their season in a rough manner, but recently the team has been doing better, and are currently on a three-game winning streak. A huge part of their improvement has been the amazing play of Zion Williamson.
The New Orleans Pelicans got the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and drafted Zion Williamson, hoping that he becomes a superstar. Zion Williamson had all the tools: the athleticism, the speed, but also the game sense. Williamson is well on his path to being a superstar: he is surrounded by solid veterans like JJ Redick, and the organization views him as the face of the franchise for long into the future. This season, Zion Williamson is showing why exactly he was the No. 1 overall pick.
Zion Williamson Is Doing Amazing Statistically
With the New Orleans Pelicans starting off the season poorly, some of the media attention has turned away from Zion Williamson and the young core in New Orleans. But Zion Williamson is quietly putting together an elite offensive season: he is averaging 23.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.7 APG while shooting an astounding 59.6% from the field. Williamson is having an elite season, and will most likely make the All-Star game. Williamson’s ability in the paint is unmatched this season: he has attempted a league-leading 256 field goals in the restricted area and also made 163 of them, good for 63.7%. Williamson is at the point where he can get to the rim at will and he is scoring there at an elite rate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmdaTamOmRo
Zion Williamson is an extremely efficient player, and he never does too much on the court, even for a superstar. Williamson’s shots are all efficient shots at the rim, and he sticks to shots he knows he will make. Playing with solid passers like Lonzo Ball seems perfect for Williamson. Lonzo Ball is somebody who knows how to make the most out of Williamson as a lob threat and feed him easy buckets inside, and thus he is a good complement to Williamson. Zion Williamson can also drive on pretty much any defender, and when the defense collapses, he’s shown an ability to find his teammates. Zion Williamson is becoming a superstar who consistently commands most of the defense’s attention.
Zion Williamson is also developing a burgeoning jumper: he is shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc, albeit on low volume. The key here is that Williamson is willing to take them and keep the defense honest. If Zion Williamson can develop a consistent jump shot, then there may be no answer for him defensively in the future.
Zion Williamson Is Making History
Throughout his first few NBA seasons, Zion Williamson has achieved some statistical feats that put him among some of the best players to ever play the game. Williamson is doing some things on the court that only legendary players have managed to do. While statistics don’t tell the whole story, in Williamson’s case, they only serve to bolster his case as the future of the NBA. In a recent game against the Indiana Pacers, Zion Williamson reached the benchmark of getting 1000 NBA points in only 44 games, the fastest among active players.
Zion 🤝𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 points
Fastest to 1,000 points among active players:
1. Williamson/ B. Griffin – 44 games
2. L. James – 49 games
3. L. Doncic – 50 games@Zionwilliamson x #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/BByjH0MQYr
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 6, 2021
Zion Williamson’s season has been low-key legendary, but it has flown under the radar. Being the fastest player to reach 1000 points is a pretty big deal and the other people on that list are or were all consistent All-NBA talents. Williamson is an extremely unique player who is still adapting to the league, but somehow, he is already making his mark in the history books.
Most 20-pt Games in a Player’s 1st 40 Career Games (Since NBA Merger)
Michael Jordan 34
David Robinson 31
Zion Williamson 31
Shaquille O’Neal 29
Zion is in some GREAT company 😤 pic.twitter.com/AQdQ60z0bL
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) January 31, 2021
Zion Williamson is the only player in NBA history to average 23.0 PPG in his 1st 43 career NBA games while shooting above a 58.0 Field Goal Percentage (58.8%).
The next closest player in FG% who averaged 23.0 PPG in his 1st 43 career NBA games was Shaquille O' Neal (57.0%). pic.twitter.com/icvCqR4lcC
— Fifth Quarter Stats (@FQStats) February 4, 2021
Being mentioned next to NBA greats like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal shows just how special Zion Williamson is as a player. Right now, there is no cap on his potential, and he could continue to develop into an all-time legend. Zion Williamson has all the tools that he needs to succeed, and he is in a franchise that is featuring him as their superstar of the future. Zion Williamson is already showing what he can do, and perhaps we will see him dominating the league sooner rather than later.
Next
The Best NBA Players At Each Position This Season: Lillard, Harden, Kawhi, Durant, Jokic
NBA Rumors: 5 Superteams That Could Be Created This Season
Head To Head Comparison: Lakers LeBron James vs. Heat LeBron James
5 Reasons Why Prime Derrick Rose Would Be A Top-3 Point Guard In NBA History
The Best Destinations For 10 NBA Stars That Could Be Traded This Season
