Forward of his season-opening matchup in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans, celebrity Nets ahead Kevin Durant struggled to seek out an apples-to-apples comparability for Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson.
As a result of there is probably not one.
“I imply you’ve seen guys that measurement, 6-foot-7, that may stand up and down the ground and that may transfer, however not at that degree although,” Durant mentioned after Monday’s follow on the HSS Coaching Facility in Trade Metropolis. “You’ve seen guys like Jason Maxiell and I’m forgetting a few of them. I’m not saying they leap as excessive as Zion, however they had been undersized guys that performed greater. Zion’s a type of guys.
“I’m lacking so many guys. Rodney Rogers, tall, 6-foot-6, Charles Barkley bruiser-type guys, however performs greater. However Zion’s athleticism trumps all of theirs by far, and if you add that to the combo, that makes him a one-of-one.”
Williamson, the No. 1 general decide within the 2019 NBA Draft, didn't play in any respect for the Pelicans final season as a consequence of a damaged foot however is understood for his just about by no means earlier than seen mix of brute energy, pace, hops and court docket imaginative and prescient. He averaged 22.5 factors his rookie season and 27 factors in Yr 2 earlier than sustaining his foot damage.
Williamson’s yearlong absence – coupled together with his fluctuations in physique weight – makes the Pelicans troublesome to scout. Whereas he was out, New Orleans acquired Portland’s gifted scorer C.J. McCollum and have fashioned a Large Three with Williamson, McCollum and All-Star ahead Brandon Ingram.
And now Williamson returns to the Pelicans in the very best form he’s been in since getting into the league.
“I suppose there's some trickiness to it about which Zion do you get?” head coach Steve Nash mentioned. “However I feel you’d be silly to not anticipate an distinctive participant. He’s so proficient and gifted, he causes issues for everyone it doesn't matter what state his physique and recreation is in. He’s nonetheless such a singular athlete and participant. So we’ve acquired to be ready. We will’t anticipate something lower than his finest (as a result of we are able to’t afford) to be shocked. Whenever you’re reactive, you’re in bother.”
Beginning heart Nic Claxton is from South Carolina, Williamson’s residence state, and mentioned the 2 had been speculated to play on the identical AAU crew one yr – together with Memphis’ All-Star guard Ja Morant – however that the crew didn’t come collectively as a result of Williamson needed to play on an AAU crew that didn’t have a shoe deal.
Claxton mentioned he’s excited to play in opposition to Williamson and that his Pelicans are a proficient crew, “however we’ll be prepared for them.”
Durant mentioned the season-opener in opposition to Williamson’s Pelicans will probably be a troublesome recreation for the crew to win.
“We all know these gamers (Williamson, McCollum and Ingram) individually,” he mentioned. “Willie (Inexperienced) is an incredible coach, trainer of the sport, good person who the younger guys can resonate with, so you understand they’re going to play exhausting for him. So if you’ve acquired that a lot expertise, you'll be able to just about be versatile along with your group. And we’ll see what occurs on Wednesday and we’re wanting ahead to a tricky recreation.”
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