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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3. Zion is one of a kind

This certainly isn’t breaking news by any stretch of the imagination, but Zion Williamson is an incredibly unique athlete. Although the numbers slightly vary from source to source, NBA.com has Zion measuring in at 6’7” and 285 lbs., making him the second largest player in terms of weight in the league, only behind 7’3” part-time movie villain Boban Marjonovic.

His NBA comparisons have ranged from Blake Griffin to Charles Barkley to even a miniature Shaquille O’Neal, only further identifying him as a completely one of a kind player.

His ability to dominate in transition and deliver SportsCenter-worthy dunks when he has open looks go without saying, but it’s other aspects of his game that help make him so unique upon entering the league.

While he likely won’t start at center, and possibly won’t even spend the majority of his time on the court there, the idea of Zion playing at the 5 has been thrown around lately. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see the rookie close games at that position, honestly. Williamson could certainly hang with some of the smaller centers in the league, and while those with more traditional size may give him some defensive struggles, he can make them pay on the other end.

He absolutely has the athleticism to switch on practically any position, and a player with this kind of versatility opens up so many doors for Gentry, especially considering his desire to play with some serious pace. The ability to play him at multiple positions gives New Orleans a chance at establishing a sort of death lineup of their very own.

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