2x Champion Drops Bold Timeline on Zion Williamson’s Return to College Form After Quiet Outing on Pelicans’ Historic Night

With a top 10 power ranking and an offense that, on paper, is superior to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings were favored to victor the In Season quarterfinals. However, the sold-out home crowd could not ‘light the beam‘. Now, the Kings will remain at home while the Pelicans’ team bus will head to Las Vegas for the semifinals. Zion Williamson struggled to put up big numbers. However, Brandon Ingram stepped up, delivering a 30-piece performance.

Although the Pelicans secured a 127-117 victory, there is a sense that their potential is even greater; especially with the idea of Zion shouldering a more expansive role. The win marked a triumph for the Pelicans, but it also hinted at a higher ceiling yet to be reached.

2-time champion suggests Zion Williamson will rise soon

Kenny Smith, in the post-game session following the Pelicans’ victory over the Kings, expressed admiration for Zion Williamson. Furthermore, he also shared his perspective on Zion’s trajectory. Smith remarked, “He (Zion) is still probably 30 days, 45 days away from being what we’ve seen him be in college or coming into the league.”

Zion’s dominance was unparalleled during his college days. His unique physique and extreme athleticism left a trail of havoc against opponents in nearly every game.

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Despite a relatively modest contribution of 10 points during the quarterfinals, if Kenny’s assessment comes true, fans can anticipate a season filled with surprises and the emergence of a new superstar.

Zion’s college stats

During his college days, Zion achieved a ton of accolades. First, he was the sole player in the NCAA (2018-19) to average 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2.0+ steals; with 50+ blocks in a single season. Notably, he was also the only player to surpass the 20-point threshold with more than 60% FG shooting.

Moreover, he was included in the first-team All-America and was named the National Player of the Year. Making history, he became the first freshman in ACC history to be named both ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP. The tale of Zion’s achievements extends even to his high school days when he guided the USA Red team to victory in the Adidas National Championships.

Transitioning to his NBA career, most notably recently, several fans have regarded Zion Williamson as one of the league’s prominent one-and-done players. The perception stems largely from his challenges with availability and inconsistency. Furthermore, the looming concern of his injuries cutting short his career further complicates his narrative.

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Setting aside the injury challenges, Zion has been consistent in his performance. Be it a 24-game season or 61 games, he maintains 20+ point averages with shooting percentages over 50%. The trend continues in the current season as well. However, considering Kenny’s timeline, it appears that Zion is on the brink of being a true superstar in the league.