The New Orleans Pelicans have proven to be a credible threat as they dominate the Western Conference. Their 22-12 record seems enviable with a .647 winning percentage. What has helped the team is their 22-year-old Zion Williamson. The NBA world has not been foolish to confuse his age with his ability to score. In very many ways, the 284 lbs player has been the secret sauce for the team’s success this season.

It was Zion Williamson’s night vs the Timberwolves

The Pelicans played against the Minnesota Timberwolves recently and recorded another win, 119-118. Notably, Zion Williamson finished the game with a career-high of 43 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Read More: ?This Man Is Ridiculous?: NBA World Goes Gaga as Ja Morant Turns Into Stephen Curry vs Zion Williamson?s Pelicans

In their home court, the Smoothie King Center, the crowd went wild as Zion threw a ball to the bucket. NBA Twitter took this opportunity to heap praise on the 2021 All-Star.

Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:

https://twitter.com/goqwejijjinm/status/1608353357097304064?s=20&t=iocvscBxCA7SI_roRsdP5A

Zion Williamson was listed as ‘probable’ for tonight’s game, and what a comeback it was for him. What could have been the fuel for Zion was his mindset. As per Andrew Lopez, Williamson said, “I gotta play. I sat on the sideline enough last year“. He added that he was feeling now great.

Zion Williamson: A hybrid between Shaq and Chuck

When Shaquille O’Neal retired, he was widely considered to be one of, if not the greatest NBA center of all time. He could handle the ball effectively and unleash his power while driving it to the basket. According to The Bleacher Report, Shaq also transformed the game and the franchises he was part of.

“The Diesel changed the way referees call games. He changed the way coaches draw up defensive game plans”, the report concluded. Shaq was also known for making the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miami Heat credible teams in the league. Zion may have done something similar for the NOLA side as well.

NBA great Charles Barkley was praised as being a dominant rebounder, a dominant defensive player, a three-point shooter, a dribbler, and a playmaker. Though he didn’t win a championship ring, his individual key metrics have been a masterclass in their own right.

Many fans believe Zion Williamson also checks both these boxes, giving him the great potential to be recognized as one of the greats of the game.

Watch This Story: How Zion Williamson Once Weighing More Than 7Ft Giant Shaquille O’Neal Nearly Ended his NBA Career

What did you think of Zion Williamson’s career-high performance? Is he a hybrid of Shaq and Chuck? Let us know in the comments below.