New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons why Zion Williamson was a great pick

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected number one overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Matteo Marchi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /

As expected, the New Orleans Pelicans took Zion Williamson first overall in this year’s draft, and it will end up having been the perfect decision.

There were no surprises when the New Orleans Pelicans made their selection at No. 1 on Thursday night, but sometimes you don’t need any surprises.

Adam Silver taking to the podium and announcing that “with the first pick in the 2019 NBA draft the New Orleans Pelicans select Zion Williamson” wasn’t just music to Pelicans fans’ ears. It was a full second line making its way Canal street.

While this choice at the top of the draft may have felt all but locked in for over a month now, it is now official, giving fans in New Orleans (and Alvin Gentry) plenty of reason to celebrate. The 2019 draft class was an undoubtedly top-heavy one with many around the league expecting a considerable break after three potential future All-Stars in Willamson, Ja Morant, and R.J. Barrett. Those three may have been the headliners of the draft, but Zion was the consensus top choice.

Sometimes the right choice is clear in the NBA draft (see LeBron James in 2003). Sometimes the choice is clear, but that doesn’t make it right (see Greg Oden in 2007). Sometimes you go off the books in hopes of nailing it and end up about as far from the right choice as you can be (see Anthony Bennett in 2013). This year, though, the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t stray from expectation and it was a perfect choice for multiple reasons.

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