New Orleans Pelicans
Breakout candidate: Zion Williamson
Well, this was an easy one. It’s no surprise that my breakout candidate for the New Orleans Pelicans is a rookie sensation, Zion Williamson. He’s already begun to flash his brilliance during the preseason in which he looked like he was playing in his playground. He can jump out of the gym and is as strong as a bull.
The one thing that worries me is his ability to stay healthy. We haven’t seen a player of this size and athleticism since LeBron James. But even Zion is bigger at this stage of his career than LeBron ever was. I’d love to see Zion’s real weight, but that’s neither here nor there. No matter how much he weighs, the dude is a highlight reel waiting to happen.
If Zion can remain healthy – and he’s already set to miss a couple of weeks of the season due to knee soreness – there’s no question that he’s going to be one of the faces of the NBA in no time. He has it all – he’s marketable, is flashy, and is playing for a team that could be the dark horse of the Western Conference. The Pelicans are better off without Anthony Davis and the biggest reason why? Zion Williamson.