Zion Williamson, at long last, set to suit up for the Pelicans in the NBA postseason
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It’s been nearly five years since Pelicans fans packing a downtown block party erupted as New Orleans officially selected Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
On Tuesday night, Williamson is slated to play in a postseason game for the first time since he starring for Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
It’ll be in the Western Conference play-in as No. 7 seed New Orleans hosts an eighth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers team featuring NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James and the Pelicans’ 2012 first overall draft choice, Anthony Davis.
“We’re all extremely proud that Z has this opportunity and that our team has this opportunity,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after practice Monday. “He’s worked his tail off. ... His first time being able to experience this is a major step.”
Williamson’s first four years were defined mostly by teasing flashes of what he could accomplish with his unusual combination of size (listed at 6-foot-7, 284 pounds), skill and explosiveness. A series of injuries to his knee, hand, foot and hamstring limited him to 114 games.