New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson has been a star since his highlight videos went viral in high school. His power dunks and explosive athleticism were on full display back then and still are today in the NBA.
In his second season with the Pelicans, Williamson has taken another step in his development. He has increased his points per game by 2.6 despite taking only 0.6 shots and 0.5 free throws more per game. He is averaging 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.
That was enough to get him selected for his first All-Star game appearance. Williamson became just the 10th player in league history to receive the honor of being named an All-Star before turning 21-years old.
While the Pelicans still aren’t having the success they had hoped for, as they are 13-17 and in 11th place in the Western Conference, Williamson’s development is encouraging and gives them hope that better days are soon to come.
There aren’t many people in the world that have the size and athleticism combo that Zion has. He is listed at 6’7” and 284 pounds. Only one player in the NBA, Boban Marjanovic, who is 7’4”, has a listed weight heavier than Williamson. He is a handful on the interior and once he develops his offense more, he will be even more difficult to defend. His playmaking will also make him a tougher player for opponents to defend.
In a piece on the subscription-based The Athletic, a Pelicans coach explained what is helping Zion Williamson develop and become a successful playmaker during his second season.
“I think his trust in his teammates is very high, and that allows him to make plays willingly. He has that ability. He’s recognizing what teams are doing to him and making really, really solid plays,”
For young players, the speed of the game is something they have to adjust to early on. It is not a surprise when mistakes are made early on as players move faster and cover ground quicker in the NBA. But, it sounds like things are beginning to slow down for Williamson.
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Without trust, teams will not get things done on the basketball court. It sounds like the Pelicans are starting to build that on their roster, as Williamson is getting his teammates involved more and helping them get to spots where they can succeed.
Despite the early struggles, the Pelicans look like a team poised to make a run in the second half of the season with a few tweaks. They have a strong nucleus of players, headlined by fellow All-Star Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, who has found his shooting stroke in recent weeks. Zion Williamson continuing to trust in them and his other teammates will only help the Pelicans get back into the postseason.
