Zion Williamson has marked his return back to the league with a solid performance against the Chicago Bulls in a preseason clash. Zion was out with a foot injury and missed the entirety of last season. However the New Orleans Pelicans did better than they were expected to do without their no.1 superstar.
But Zion is now back and he has shedded all the extra weight and is looking much fitter, leaner and overall better. He is also happier as he seems to enjoy the sport again. Therefore people think that though he still has a lot to prove to his doubters, he has an elevated mindset this season and feels that keeping that mindset will definitely help him produce the goods that are needed to propel his team forward in the Championship race.
However NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins jokingly shared how a massive contract like the one that Zion has will obviously elevate anyone’s mindset. He shared, ”Hold on let me cut you. If you got a 200 million dollar contract extension wouldn’t you look happy too?”
The p[elicans are said to be one of the dark horses ahead of the season especially for the reason that they have a strong starting five and good role players on the bench. The deadline day addition of CJ McCollum has elevated the team a lot higher and the camaraderie that he showed with Brandon Ingram last season propelled them to the postseason when people thought they were going to miss Zion a lot and finish without postseason.
But now with Zion back and CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram already there, they can play to each other’s strengths and be a very dangerous team. High praises are being thrown at the Pelicans looking at their current team with Zion Williamson back and healthy.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes the Pelicans have the firepower to make it to the COnference Finals and with a little luck they may even reach the NBA Finals. On ESPN’s “First Take, Smith came up with the very bold claim, as he said, “I have the New Orleans Pelicans as the No. 1 sleeper in the entire NBA. The Pelicans can end up in the conference finals. The Pelicans can end up in the finals.”
He then comes up with the reasons showing how the Pelicans have everything starting from athleticism, shooters, defenders and the main thing that is the heart to fight it up against any anybody or any team. “They got a crew. They’re long, they’re athletic, they can get physical, they got shooters, they got athletes, and they got a whole bunch of heart. They ain’t scared of anybody, and they got young fresh legs.”
While we don’t know where the New Orleans Pelicans will end up but one thing that we can surely say is that watching them play will surely be exciting especially now with Zion Williamson’s return.
