Two Games In, Zion Has Made An Impression

As former Duke star Zion Williamson rises to NBA-level competition, it’s already clear that he belongs.

In his first game, against the Spurs, he became the first NBA rookie to ever go 4-4 on three pointers in his first game and tied the league record for most points in a quarter by a rookie (he hit 17).

He’s also currently shooting 75 percent from the floor and has scored 37 points in 39 minutes in his first two games.

Williamson is also the first player in NBA history to score 20 points, get seven rebounds and hit four threes in less than 20 minutes.

Against Denver, he even spent time guarding Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who is 7-0 and 284.

And we’d peg him at about 85 percent too. He needs to get his endurance back, but so far he looks just as dominant in the NBA as he did at Duke, which is just ridiculous and should be impossible.

But clearly it’s not.

Sunday poses an interesting challenge as Duke South, aka the Pelicans, takes on the Boston Celtics.

Among other things, it’s a first professional matchup between Brotherhood members Williamson (and Brandon Ingram, JJ Redick, Frank Jackson and Jahlil Okafor) on the one side and Celtic Jayson Tatum on the other.

Brad Stevens is as respected a mind as there is in the game and he’ll have some plans for Williamson we’re sure.

But it’s like Mike Tyson used to say, isn’t it? Everyone has a plan until they get hit.

• Pelicans must think ‘long term’ with Zion Williamson, Alvin Gentry says
• Michael Jordan — Zion Williamson’s passion ‘great for the league’
• Zion Williamson Makes NBA Debut, Shoots Lightning Bolts From His Hands
• Zion Williamson is back and energizing New Orleans like never before
• Walker: What can Zion Williamson do to top incredible NBA debut? Here are a few ideas