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 Mark Westcott/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. He has the personality and play to give this franchise life

In terms of words, Zion isn’t a particularly boisterous guy. He is about keeping his head down, putting in the hours, and playing hard. This was evident at Duke, where, even amid injury concerns, Williamson ignored sitting out the back end of the season because he knew he would be “letting a lot of people down” and that he “came to Duke to play”.

Zion, who will turn 19 in July, already has the kind of work ethic and commitment to greatness that every city dreams their team’s superstar can have. But what makes him even more dynamic as the future face of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise is that where he may not be incredibly outspoken, his game certainly is.

Call it “must see TV”, “box office”, or whatever you wish. Zion Williamson is that. He has been a household name since his days of making dunking mixtapes in high school. Not only will fans all around the league be tuning into Pelicans games to see him cultivate a rivalry between himself and the rim, but he is the kind of phenomenal talent that draws new fans to the sport.

New Orleans basketball may not be the focal point of sports in the city, but with Zion Williamson as the face of the franchise, it will become increasingly difficult to not want to be a Pelicans fan.

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