The long wait is almost over. After months of cautious progress reports and camera phone warmup videos, the Pelicans announced on Wednesday that rookie Zion Williamson is slated to make his NBA debut against San Antonio on Jan. 22. We’ll have waited 44 games for Williamson’s debut when he presumably checks into his first professional contest. As we saw in Summer League, every move will be dissected, every dunk played on a loop. But what can we really expect in the first weeks of Zion’s NBA career? Viewers should proceed with caution.
Alvin Gentry and the Pelicans have taken a bubble-wrap approach to their prized rookie this season, and rightfully so.