Zion Williamson Brings Down the House in Preseason Debut

Williamson, 19, finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals

Zion Williamson Brings Down the House in Preseason Debut
Zion Williamson dunks the ball against the Atlanta Hawks. (Carmen Mandato/Getty)
Getty Images

In his first preseason action in the NBA, top pick Zion Williamson looked worthy of his No. 1 overall selection.

Drafted by the Pelicans out of Duke, Williamson took the floor for New Orleans and had a trio of rim-rattling dunks against the Atlanta Hawks before the first half was even done.

One of the dunks was right-handed, one was lefty and the third was a double-hand slam.

“This isn’t high school or college anymore,” Williamson said, according to The Associated Press. “You’ve got to go up strong. So I went up strong and I was able to finish.”

The crowd that showed up to watch the Pelicans notch their 133-109 victory over the Hawks was more engaged than usual and Williamson delivered, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

For the 19-year-old star, the game was a chance for him to take the court with his Duke Cam Reddish who was taken by the Hawks with the 10th selection in the draft

“It’s crazy,” Williamson said. “Just a few months ago, we were in college together, just chillin’ and having fun with each other, playing in games, and now we’re pros. It was a different feel for sure. But it was great seeing him.”

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