The Last Time We Saw Zion

by Ryan Mercier

No one really knows when Zion Williamson will be playing basketball again. Will it be this season? Will he even play another game for the New Orleans Pelicans?

It’s a shame. He’s one of the best and most entertaining players in the whole league. The only way to watch Zion play basketball is by watching an old game on NBA League Pass, which is what I did. May 4th, 2021. The last time we saw Zion.

Pelicans 108, Warriors 103

Ah, yes. Full Covid times. Little or no fans in attendance. This game was also the strange scenario made familiar by the condensed season where the home team would host the same visitor on back-to-back nights. The Warriors won the first game on May 3rd, 123-108. Steph Curry hit eight threes.

Zion opened the game with crazy activity right off the bat in the first 30 seconds, especially with his passes. He also scored the first points of the game on free throws. Williamson was coming off of a stretch where he scored 30 points in 11 of his last 19 games.

Just a reminder on his game, Golden State gave Zion all the space he could want on the perimeter, daring him to shoot threes. Funny enough, Zion was guarding Draymond Green and paid him the exact same respect. Of course, he makes his money in the paint. On one particular play early on, the Warriors triple-teamed him down low which led to an easy Pelicans 3-pointer.

Zion’s passing ability is the most fascinating thing about going back to watch him in an old game. He’s not perfect every time and, yes, he had some horrendous turnovers. However, the fact that he will almost always be double-teamed (at the very least) leads to all kinds of opportunities if he’s willing to pass. In fact, he might even be too willing to pass at times.

He finally made his first basket almost two minutes in to the second quarter. His ability to score powerful layups is such a weapon. It is almost hilarious how much he does not dunk and the phrase “powerful layups” is necessary. He also made some interesting plays on defense and wound up with four steals in this game.

Now, buckle up for the 3rd quarter. Zion leaves with a hand injury with over eight minutes left. He checks back in around the 4:39 mark. Not even a minute later, the lights LITERALLY go out. Everything goes dark. What an omen.

This is in New Orleans. The city where the Superdome famously went dark during the Super Bowl between the Ravens and 49ers. Zion entered the game after an injury and it’s literally lights out. Need I remind you that at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, there was an earthquake during Zion’s debut which shut down basketball action for the rest of the night.

Zion is a powerful figure in the universe.

As for the rest of the game, Williamson was not exactly the catalyst in the Pelicans comeback from being down 90-81 in the 4th quarter. He missed multiple shots at the rim, lacked closeout speed on defense, and had some awful turnovers.

Still, the final minute was incredible for him. Draymond Green missed a go-ahead free throw and Zion fought hard for the rebound tied at 100. Then, up 102-100, Mychal Mulder of the Warriors gets a rebound on a scramble but Zion pokes the ball away and gets fouled running up the floor. As a career 68% free throw shooter, he sank both of them. Pelicans win.

When Zion finally takes the court again, it will be a seismic event. Hopefully just in the figurative, basketball sense.