The Legend of Zion: The wait will be worth it for the Pelicans
As Zion Williamson makes his season debut, the wait will prove to be worth it for the New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson is set to have his NBA debut Wednesday Night. The timing could not be better.
We were teased over the summer with his brief stint in Summer League, where Zion’s earth-shaking dunks could only be matched by the ground shaking from a mid-game earthquake.
A knee injury has kept Zion sidelined for 45 games causing our memories of the Duke star to fade. For any other superstar on any other team you would want them to be out there for the full 82. The Pelicans had nothing to win and everything to lose by rushing Zion back.
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While it would have been nice to see Zion grabbing boards and driving down the lane with full abandonment in November. It was not needed for this Pelican’s team who have been below average during their 2019-20 campaign.
The Legend of Zion has built with stories of a possible redshirt year. As memories of Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons fill out heads.
Zion joins the NBA while enthusiasm might be at an all-time low during the winter lull of the long season. This in-between time from Christmas to the All-Star game, where you see teams like the Lakers just no show a game and get whooped by the Celtics for a 32-point loss.
Zion will have an almost cinematic debut being on ESPN with a nation watching. Not getting lost in the shuffle of the NBA season openers. Even with his limited preseason and Summer League with limited playing time this is truly our first peek at Zion.
No more looking for clips online of Zion playing in exhibition games. A Rookie of the Year campaign is probably lost, due to Ja Morant’s spectacular play. In the long run, will that matter as we are going to base Zion not in one year but a whole career. A career we hope will be long and healthy.
Zion gets to dominate the second half of this season. With a team that can go one of two ways. Either full tank to obtain a better pick or The Pelicans can fight for that 8th seed currently occupied by Ja’s Grizzlies.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson’s return will spark a playoff push. dark. Next
January 22nd will be appointment viewing for any casual to die-hard NBA fan. We are going to see a star being born because anytime Zion steps on to a basketball court, you believe a man can fly.