The NBA debut of Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is so anticipated that ESPN is bumping its marquee game of Nuggets-Rockets to showcase the 19-year-old phenom play his first game against the Spurs in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at how NBA legends did in their regular-season debuts.
LeBron James (2003)
Stats from first game: 25 points (12-20 FGs), 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Tim Duncan (1997)
Stats from first game: 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in the San Antonio Spurs’ 107-96 win over the Denver Nuggets
Kobe Bryant (1996)
Stats from first game: 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals and 1 block in the Lakers’ 91-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shaquille O’Neal (1992)
Stats from first game: 12 points (4-8 FGs), 18 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists in the Orlando Magic’s 110-100 victory over the Miami Heat.
Michael Jordan (1984)
Stats from first game: 16 points (5-16 FGs), 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks in the Chicago Bulls’ 109-93 win over the Washington Bullets.
Hakeem Olajuwon (1984)
Stats from first game: 24 points (11-18 FGs), 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in the Houston Rockets’ 121-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Magic Johnson
Stats from first game: 26 points (10-21 FGs), 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in the Lakers’ 103-102 win over the San Diego Clippers.
Larry Bird (1979)
Stats from first game: 14 points (6-12 FGs), 10 rebounds and 5 assists in the Boston Celtics’ 114-106 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Bill Walton
Stats from first game: 18 points (7-18 FGs), 24 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 131-129 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (aka Lew Alcindor)(1969)
Stats from first game: 29 points (12-27 FGs), 12 rebounds and 6 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-110 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Wilt Chamberlain (1960)
Stats from first game: 43 points (17-27 FGs), 28 rebounds and 1 assist in the Philadelphia Warriors’ 118-109 victory over the New York Knicks.
Bill Russell (1956)
Stats from first game: 6 points, 16 rebounds and 1 assist in the Boston Celtics’ 95-93 win over the St. Louis Hawks.
