Zion Williamson To Make Debut For Pelicans on Jan 22

After what feels like an interminable wait, Zion Williamson is in line to make his NBA debut for the Pelicans.

Zion Williamson is pencilled in to make his return from injury on January 22 against the San Antonio Spurs.

The power forward hasn’t played since an exhibition game against the Spurs on October 13. He had right knee surgery on October 21, and New Orleans determined a 6 – 8 week recovery timeframe.

However, Zion Williamson has been eased back into action, given his importance to the franchise. 

Pelicans GM David Griffin said that Zion’s playing time will be determined by how he responds to the games.

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Williamson’s ability to propel the Pelicans to national importance goes beyond what he can do on the court. What he gives the team from a business and publicity standpoint is equally impactful. So much so, that the NBA’s languishing TV ratings this season have been put down to his absence. An NBA executive explains, via Bleacher Report.

“The Pelicans games were put on almost exclusively because of him,” the official said. 

“So his absence hurt us big time because they were on [national TV] so much early, and it hurt the spotlight on those games.”

“As big as he is on the basketball side, with the season tickets they’ve sold, their marketing, their grassroots marketing, he’s bigger on the business side,” an executive told Yahoo! Sports. 

“He changes the perception of the franchise. Between drafting him and hiring David Griffin, they’ve changed their perception. They’re a national franchise now, businesses will be attracted to them.”

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Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry agrees that the league needs Williamson. With everyone so convinced of the Zion phenomenon, Williamson will have to produce once he returns to the court.

“I think so. The league does need him,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill. 

“Because he’s a great personality, a great feel for the game. And he’s a different kind of player. Kind of like Luka [Doncic], basically. They bring an element to the game you don’t see in other guys.”