NBA Reactions: Zion Williamson Caught Worldwide Attention With Incredible Stat In Debut

The long-awaited debut of Zion Williamson was upon us when he put on a show in their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. The top pick of the 2019 NBA draft displayed that he was worth the wait with an impressive performance. Although the New Orleans Pelicans fell short, 117-121, he still tallied 22 points, 7 rebounds, on 8/11 shooting from the field.

Entering the matchup, Zion Williamson was always known to be the high-flying athlete who was on every Instagram highlight reel. With his bulky physique and incredible leaping ability, the rookie was questioned if there were more versatility in his game.

His preseason numbers may have been stellar but his shot chart showed that his range was mostly inside the paint.

With his much-awaited NBA debut, Zion Williamson made an emphatic statement that he’s more than just the muscle in the middle. What stood out the most was his perfect percentage from the three-point line. He had an unblemished night from long distance tallying 4/4 from the field – an incredible statistic given he has never made more than 3 threes in a game in college.

His shooting stroke propelled his team to a late comeback effort by scoring 17 points in the final period. Although the Pelicans fell short in their matchup, his performance definitely caught the NBA’s attention.

He only played three minutes in the fourth quarter and was taken out by coach Alvin Gentry. This substitution caused an immediate “We want Zion!” chants to quickly erupt.

After the game, social media once again went off with praise for the forward out of Duke. New York Times bestseller and NBA author Shea Serrano was one of those hyped with the show Zion Williamson demonstrated.

Bill Simmons of The Ringer also took to Twitter on Zion's debut.

Even fellow rookie sensation and number 2 overall pick Ja Morant showed his support for Zion Williamson.

At the end of the game Coach Alvin Gentry commented that although he wanted to have his top rookie on the floor, the medical staff advised him otherwise. "I aint the brightest coach in the world but I wouldn't take him out in those situations unless I was told to," he said.

Gentry adds that they should look into Zion Williamson's situation in the long-term perspective of his health. "I think he made his point and I think he'll continue to get better, but we can't sacrifice his whole future for one short-term thing."

"I think for him it's just a relief to have one game under his belt," Gentry said.

The New Orleans Pelicans are still chasing the eighth spot in the Western Conference. They are currently at 17-28 as the Spurs move up in the eighth seed at 20-23. With the league watching every move Zion Williamson makes, it’s only a matter of time until the rookie shows us more of what he’s got in the NBA.