Jaxson Hayes Steals Zion's Spotlight On Impressive Pelican Debut

A New Orleans Pelicans rookie is making waves online after an impressive debut - and it's not Zion Williamson. Jaxson Hayes, the former Longhorns star tallied 28 points, four boards, three blocks and an impressive aerial assault against Chicago's Mychal Mulder.

Although all eyes are on the team's No. 1 selection, Zion Williamson, it was Hayes that delivered the goods on a Monday night win against the slumping Chicago Bulls.

With Williamson's absence due to a knee injury, Hayes showed his brilliance on both sides of the floor. It culminated with an insane block and a tomahawk slam that sent shivers to the attending crowd.

Hayes' impressive rack attack went viral on Monday when he soared above the rim on a baseline assault meant for annihilation. The attempt sent Chicago's Mychal Mulder tumbling on the floor, with his teammates showing signs of disbelief after the acrobatic finish.

The Atlanta Hawks drafted the 19-year-old highflyer as the 8th overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. He was later sent to New Orleans in exchange for the No. 4 pick De'Andre Hunter.

In other news, Zion Williamson said that "It was more precautionary," for him to sit out the remainder of the Las Vegas Summer League. According to the team's attending physicians, the No. 1 overall pick might have knocked knees with another player on Friday resulting to a bruised knee.

Williamson sat on Monday night that saw the Pelicans win 109-72 against the Chicago Bulls. He said that it is "frustrating" not able to play for the rest preseason affair.

The Duke recruit had previous problems with his weight, and he came in the NBA wavering around 284 lbs. When asked for any specific goals regarding his weight, Zion refrained from answering. He said that he'd "let the trainers help me with that."

On his debut, Williamson went for 11 points on 4 out of 9 shooting before being pulled out for the rest of the game. He also had three rebounds and a steal from Kevin Knox that ended with a slam.

The New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 10, 6:30 pm Central Time (CT).

The New Orleans Pelicans is looking to redeem themselves after a dismal 2018-2019 season campaign. With the addition of three stand-out rookies and a solid young core of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram, they are looking to make a mark on the upcoming season.