Zion Williams Selected by New Orleans Pelicans with #1 Pick in NBA Draft

Zion Williamson with the Duke Blue Devils in 2019
Zion Williamson with the Duke Blue Devils in 2019. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (10157476ah)

With the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected the player that everyone knew that they were going to choose. That didn’t take away from the excitement of the moment when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver read the name.

The Pelicans, who won the pick in last month’s draft lottery, took full advantage of their chance to select Zion Williamson out of Duke University, who is considered to be one of the best prospects in basketball history.

Williamson, a 6’7″ forward, was a highly-rated prospect in high school before he went to Duke to play one season under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski. There, he justified his billing, averaging 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and showcasing mind-blowing athleticism and scoring ability.

The 18-year-old is expected to immediately become an impact player and even a star in the league. He will team up with the recently-acquired Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram in New Orleans, composing a young and exciting trio.

It’s unknown what will become of Williamson and his professional career, but there hasn’t been expectation like this placed on any young player in many years. New Orleans hopes that Williamson will be the player that the franchise needs in order to propel them to their first ever NBA title in the future.

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