New Orleans Pelicans: Which Zion move will break the internet this season?

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is the NBA player most likely to break the internet in 2019-20

In 2019, we hunger for the NBA like Joey Chestnut at a hot dog stand. From House Of Highlights to a full course of NBA League Pass, basketball wonderfully dishes out more than we can take. Now comes the most exciting pro prospect in years, Zion Williamson.

So, here, I consider what he’ll serve up in the 2019-20 season to bring the buffet table that is the internet, crashing down.

An outrageous oop

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When Zion breaks from the defensive end across the court, there’s a half-moment where he must picture leapfrogging a lone defender. Then that guy, as if telepathically, has the very same thought and for the sake of maintaining the NBA’s ‘G’ rating, mercifully ducks for cover.

When Zion first makes such a charge in the pros, plucking an alley-oop pass from Lonzo Ball with one hand, the GIF gurus will lose their minds.

The catch and split

Now the move that shorts the internet could certainly be more subtle. Consider the classic back to the basket catch in the lane, while everyone on defense has the pained scowl of Rambo. They know what’s coming. A quick spin and step between a double team, followed by an impossible floating lay-up.

In today’s space-obsessed game, such interior shakedowns are something to marvel at.

Runaway muscle

Back on the break, let’s think about Zion scooping up a poked away ball with the speed of a Vin Diesel getaway. We saw it during March Madness and how truly maddening it must have been for opposing teams to watch this human Camaro rocketing to the basket. Wait, is he out of control? Nope, he just skidded and reset course before winding up a windmill.

We’ve seen big engines like Kawhi Leonard and Blake Griffin turn loose in the open court, but perhaps not since 2003 LeBron James has a player transported bulk goods so elegantly.

Show and go

I personally can’t get enough of the old Michael Jordan “right over Rollins” move where Zion threatens to shoot long-range, only to dribble and slide past an antsy perimeter defender. This is followed by a hard drive for a tomahawk jam. Michael did it with such grace and style. Zion, aided by floor-spacers JJ Redick and Josh Hart, will have time to top up the turbo bar and throw it down hard. Either way, it’s not the shoes.

Lunchtime lob

At some point, Zion’s boldest move will be off-court. It’ll come during a mid-season promo event, or maybe in a new ad for a famous deli. It’ll go something like this: a teammate will ask the No.1 pick to toss a po’ boy sandwich like a football through a distant basket.

Always keen to please fans, Zion will not only comply but follow the shot through the hoop. He’ll then catch the sandwich in his mouth for a tasty finish. Warm-up your social buttons, folks.