Before even entering the league, Zion Williamson was one of the most hyped players since LeBron James. His dominating performances for Duke plus all the hype surrounding him ensured he would be the first overall pick in 2019. And he was.
After being drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans, Zion got injured in the preseason and had to wait till January to make his debut. Over 2.4 million people were watching his NBA debut on January 22 against the San Antonio Spurs. He 22 points, 7 rebounds, and also went 4/4 from the three-point line.
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While talking to Ernie Johnson, he revealed that he has been using this time out to stay fit for the return. David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, confirmed that “He’s in a good space physically and mentally.” With the NBA resuming next month, Zion’s return was important for the league.
Zion Williamson, the league’s golden boy now?
“It’s obvious (that) a ton of people will watch just to watch him,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN. “Go back and look at how full the arena was at summer league to go watch him play. It will be huge.”
“[Williamson is] a guy that drives eyeballs and attention,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “[The NBA] would love to have a Michael Jordan versus the ’86 Celtics moment in the first round,” the executive continued. “If they could get their ideal world, that’s what they would want.”
When Michael Jordan took on the Celtics in 1986, he was just in his second season. Despite suffering an injury early in the season, he was back just a month before the playoffs. When the Bulls met the Celtics in the first round, it was expected to be an easy win for Boston. But the hype of the ROTY Jordan facing the MVP Larry Bird caught eyeballs. The Bulls got swept but Jordan showed out, setting an all-time playoff record of 63 points in the second game.
Potential playoff matchup of LeBron and Zion?
The NBA might be looking for similar hype now and will be looking to rake in all the TV money possible after losses from ticket sales. A potential playoff matchup between Zion and LeBron would be huge, not just for the league, but also for the fans. The Pelicans have an easier schedule than the Grizzlies who currently hold the eighth seed. With Zion back, he can definitely help them to that last playoff spot. That would lead to a first-round match-up between the Lakers and the Pelicans.
There were rumors that the return plan included 22 teams so that Zion and the Pelicans could also participate. Whether that is true or not, it looks like Zion is ready to unleash now when the NBA returns. He was having a solid season in the 19 games he played, averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
“Compared to most other young players, [the league is] invested in him,” the Eastern Conference executive continued. “There are few of these guys that, instead of just being popular within basketball, can expand the relevance of the NBA. They hope he can do that for them.”
