Last night the NBA was finally graced with the debut of the number one pick in the 2019 draft, Zion Williamson. He, along with the rest of the New Orleans Pelicans, took on the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Pelicans ended up losing the match, Williamson had one of the best debut games a rookie has had.
Zion Williamson’s Amazing Debut
The Good: Zion Williamson‘s Stat Line
Williamson showed up at The Smoothie King Arena with a lot of expectations on Wednesday night. Statistically, he lived up to them. Williamson put up 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in his NBA debut. Not only did he score 22 points, but he did so by shooting 8 of 11 from the floor. That translates to a shooting percentage of 72.7%, which is even higher than the 71% he shot during an amazing preseason. To add to this, he was 4 for 4 from beyond the arc. It may only be a small sample size, but we could be seeing the birth of one of the most efficient players in the game today.
The Bad: Mark Jackson’s Commentary
There are always a lot of bad takes out there on the internet, but it is rare that they make their way out of the mouth of an ESPN commentator. That is exactly what happened last night. Mark Jackson decided he was going to spend the majority of the first half admonishing Williamson for his weight, conditioning, and physique. The broadcast made sure to mention that Williamson is the third heaviest player currently playing in the NBA. Jackson took that fact and ran with it. The former Warriors coach, and NBA guard, was fat-shaming one of the most exciting players to come into the league. Jackson didn’t have the fondest words to say of Williamson.
The Wow: Zion Williamson’s Fourth Quarter Run
After what most would call a disappointing first three quarters, we saw the true promise that Williamson presents in the fourth quarter. Williamson led a comeback by scoring 17 straight points and assisting on another six points. The run included four shots behind the arc and a rather impressive putback on one of his own misses. Williamson showed that he can provide a spark for the Pelicans, and can ignite passion with fans across the NBA. Of course, this is a one-game sample size, but he will continue to develop on a nightly basis during the rest of the season. The Zion Williamson debut game, especially the fourth quarter, lived up to all the hype.
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