Zion Williamson finally made his rookie year debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, and a number of Saints players were watching and in attendance. While courtside mainstays like Cameron Jordan and Alvin Kamara were out of town getting ready for the 2020 Pro Bowl, teammates including Taysom Hill and Craig Robertson were tuning in for the game.
So they got a great look at the 6-foot-6, 284-pound 19-year-old’s first regular season game. And Williamson didn’t disappoint, ending his night with 22 points scored, seven rebounds, and three assists, including four difficult three-point shots down the stretch to give the Pelicans the lead. But he was playing on a minutes restriction in his first game back from preseason meniscus surgery, so he wasn’t able to see his team through to a win just yet.
Still, it was a terrific first impression, and should bode well for the future of Pelicans basketball in New Orleans. That’s great news for sports fans in and around the city as well as those Pelicans fans on the Saints roster. Expect to see plenty more crossover episodes as the NBA season — and Williamson’s young saga — marches forward.
