Home

NBA

Zion Williamson Joins LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson with Historic All-Star Nomination

Published 02/24/2021, 7:30 AM EST

Follow Us

via Imago

Zion Williamson has been having a great season so far. The former number one draft pick has been putting up solid numbers for the New Orleans Pelicans this year. And while the team has struggled, Williamson is showing that he was worth being the undisputed first overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Zion Williamson making All-Star history

And now, Zion Williamson has made history. Williamson was recently named an All-Star for the first time in his career. At 20 years and 244 days, Williamson is one of the youngest All-Stars in NBA history. The only players to become an All-Star at a younger age are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Magic Johnson. Williamson is in elite company already.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Williamson was one of the most hyped prospects to enter the NBA in recent memory. He was the undisputed favorite to be the number one draft pick in 2019. He went to the New Orleans Pelicans, but his first season was a short one. Williamson had injury struggles that dated back to his days playing for Duke.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

When he did make his debut, fans got the chance to see why Williamson had such a following before ever playing an NBA game. He only got to play 19 games in his first NBA season, as the Pelicans missed the playoffs last season. Williamson spent much of the off-season working on his fitness issues and seems to have put his struggles behind him.

Zion looking strong this season

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

This season, Williamson has been putting up some solid numbers. He is currently averaging 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. Furthermore, he has been shooting 35% from the three-point line and 61% from the field. Those are excellent numbers for a player who is only in his sophomore season in the NBA.

Despite his solid performances, the Pelicans have been struggling this season. They currently have a 13-17 record and are struggling to secure a playoff position. Over the last few years, the NBA has shown that any team below .500 for the season tends to struggle to secure a playoff position.

USA Today via Reuters

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Can Zion Williamson lead the Pelicans to a playoff position? He and Brandon Ingram will have to step up their performances to a great degree. The Western Conference is much tougher than it has been in years, and the players have to look their best if the Pelicans stand a chance to make the postseason.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Aaditya Krishnamurthy

1,313Articles

One take at a time

Aaditya Krishnamurthy is an NBA & NFL journalist for EssentiallySports, before which he worked at BusinessWorld magazine. He has been a fan of Basketball for over 10 years now, since Shaquille O’Neal was a Phoenix Suns player. During his time at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, he started a sports magazine for the college called the Overtime Tribune and hosted the Overtime Tribune Podcast until he graduated.
Show More>