NBA Draft Recap: Zion Williamson is Pelicans No. 1 NBA Draft Pick

On NBA Draft night, the Pelicans drafted Duke phenom and No. 1 NBA Draft pick, Zion Williamson from Duke. The night was spectacular. Zion’s named was called first, and he shook NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's hand with a great deal of joy. Then he spoke to TV cameras about being drafted and the journey it took him to get this far.

What made the night special was seeing an emotional Zion, when he gave credit to his mother, who sacrificed her dreams to make sure he could be in the NBA. Zion’s mother discussed the hard-work and dedication Williamson brought to every game, and how it impacted her life.

This version of Zion is a grateful, happy human being who relished this opportunity to be drafted in the NBA. Furthermore, he can’t wait to get advice from other veterans, especially LeBron James, on how to adjust in the NBA.

There is no doubt that in the next two to three years, Zion will become a superstar in the league.

Zion Williamson flexing his guns.

In New Orleans, Zion will meet a great organization that is run by Pelicans Vice President, David Griffin, and a group of young players who will compliment him. By not being drafted in New York or Los Angeles, Zion will flourish well under the spotlight. Williamson is a player Griffin will build around for years to come, sorry Anthony Davis. Davis had his chance, but it is Zion’s time.

When the new season starts, Williamson will be surrounded by Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday, and Josh Hart. With this squad, it will be very entertaining to watch on both ends of the floor. In order for the Pelicans to have a great season, they need to develop good chemistry, learn from mistakes, trust one another, and compete to win.

Chemistry

We all know that chemistry is very important in today’s NBA. The Pelicans will be amongst the teams to have a successful season. With Zion in the picture, the team itself will be fun to watch. Now, Williamson is not the type of player that causes rifts in a team. Zion is a team-first type of player who is willing to share his success with his teammates. What he brings is his love for the game, positivity, and a willingness to learn.

With that said, this version of Zion will transition beautifully in New Orleans, and has no problem meshing with new players. Imagine Lonzo throwing lobs to Zion in transition. That would be a highlight. This is why David Griffin drafted the Duke phenom, simply because of his versatility on both ends of the court.

The defense part of Williamson’s game is the one to watch, which is his greatest asset. Zion has the ability to defend on both ends of the court, and defends all five positions. This defense ability has been compared to three-time Champion Draymond Green.

Have you seen a player who can go full speed, and go for a dunk or chase for a block? We’ve never seen anything like that before. Overall, Zion will work well with his new teammates.

I have a feeling that Zion is going to grow on the Pelicans over time, and stay for a long time as he so chooses.

Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes in their rookie year. Even Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and other greats had their struggles as a rookie. What separates them from everybody else is the work they put in every day to become the player they wanted to be. With hard-work and determination, Jordan became the greatest player of all-time.

By studying the game and asking questions along the way, allowed Bryant to become one of the greatest players in the game. What made LeBron great was his work ethic and durability to have longevity in the NBA Finals. You know what I’m talking about?

In order for Zion to be compared to those great players I mentioned earlier; he has to work on his game every day. Whether it’s working on mid-range, free throws, defense, three-point shots, and other facets to add to his game. If Zion works on his mistakes, he will know how to adjust against other great teams and learn how to win.

Without a doubt, Zion will have his fair share of mistakes this upcoming season. The love of his mother, the skills he was taught by Duke head coach, Mike Krzyzewski, and the love for the game will help him grow both as an NBA player and a man.

Trust

Trust is a big part of committing to an organization, especially if you are willing to stay with a respective team long-term. Nowadays, elite players are requesting trades after spending five or more years with their teams and going to greener pastures. Most recently, former Pelicans star, Anthony Davis got traded to the Lakers after spending seven years with the only franchise he knew.

With new management and an entertaining young core, Zion is in great position to stay for the long haul. The only way for him to leave is if the Pelicans don’t surround him with good talent, which David Griffin will deliver. So far, Griffin has built a great foundation for the long-term. If I were Zion, I would stay and flourish with the team I have now.

In the next five years, we will know how loyal Zion is to the Pelicans.

Above all else, the Pelicans will compete to win at all costs. Even Zion is on board with winning. I believe that this team will be in the playoffs, simply because of how Griffin structured the team. In order for the Pelicans to compete in the likes of the Lakers, Warriors, Rockets, Denver, and Utah in the West, they need one more piece.

This piece can be an All-Star they can sign with $29 million in cap space available. If I were the Pelicans, I would get Al Horford to balance the team out, in terms of his versatility. There are other options Griffin can find in the free agency market that can lift this team deep in the playoffs.

In the end, the Pelicans were able to draft their number one guy in Zion Williamson, and receive other picks in the process. Simply put, the Pelicans are having one of the best off-seasons ever. By trading one player, they got a Duke phenom, and enormous assets at their disposal.

Zion's future is bright.

That is all the news I have for you today!

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