Zion Williamson got into the NBA surrounded by the kind of craze somebody like LeBron James did during his time with St. Vincent St. Mary High School. And don’t get me wrong, this craze was well earned and not created by his dad who wanted to earn millions off of his son’s name.
His highlights from school and Duke University became the top basketball videos on YouTube and major sports channels couldn’t stop talking about him. After all, it isn’t every day that a man built like a football player with the hops of a bunny was about to enter the league. He was clearly going to be the number one pick.
But a 6’3’’ Ja Morant was more of a rags to riches kind of guy. When he arrived at Murray State Racers, nobody recognised him, until a coach accidentally stumbled upon him in the gym while looking for a snack!
But an unfortunate injury followed by a knee surgery changed everything for both of them. While Williamson didn’t get to make his official NBA debut for three months, it shifted focus to pick No.. 2, who didn’t disappoint.
Averaging 18 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7 assists through his first 36 games, Morant has clearly become the face of the 2019 Draft and is clearly the league favourite to win the Rookie of the Year Award at the end of the season.
What is more important is the fact that with a young supporting cast around him, the 20-year-old has been able to make the Memphis Grizzlies a fun team to watch and even become a solid eighth seed come postseason.
One of the biggest reasons behind such instant success Morant brought to the team is his infectious energy and the willingness to play every possession as if his last.
“Tell that motherfu**er about me,” was what Morant said after drilling a three in James Harden’s face after the Bread challenged him to. That’s a kid looking out for a challenge and stepping up to it.
Clearly, the point guard is playing with a chip on his shoulders and maybe, just maybe that makes the New Orleans Pelicans feel afraid of him.
What if he proves to be too much for their “soon-to-be star”? What if the skinny dude brings his A game and the athletic freak isn’t ready for him on national television? What if Ja puts Williamson on a poster on his first day in the league?
Is that why the franchise decided to make Williamson debut against the San Antonio Spurs and not the Grizzlies, even though the doctors cleared him out to play last week? Guess we will never know.
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