Top Reactions to Zion Williamson's Epic NBA Debut with Pelicans

Megan ArmstrongSenior Analyst IJanuary 23, 2020

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson warms up before an NBA basketball game San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. It is the first overall draft pick's regular season NBA debut after being injured since preseason. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

The NBA has been waiting for 2019 No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson to make his regular-season debut.

The 19-year-old New Orleans Pelicans forward made the wait worthwhile Wednesday night.

New Orleans fell 121-117 to the visiting San Antonio Spurs, but Williamson didn't go down without a fight. The Duke product scored 17 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, including four three-pointers, and finished tied with forward Brandon Ingram for a team-high 22 points:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
UNREAL Zion went off for 22 PTS and went 4/4 from 3PT in 18 minutes in his NBA debut 🔥 https://t.co/j1e5SgooGH

Pelicans fans at the Smoothie King Center showered Williamson with love:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Zion already getting MVP chants from Pelicans fans. This is wild. (via @PelicansNBA) https://t.co/RwQT424wi1

And plenty of notable people flooded Twitter with their reactions, including 2019 No. 2 overall pick Ja Morant:

Ja Morant @JaMorant
yesssir 🤫 @Zionwilliamson

Michael Thomas @Cantguardmike
Zion hoopin

Duke Men’s Basketball @DukeMBB
“He’s just a dunker” they said 🤡🤣 https://t.co/s0Dav989tm

Jamal Adams @Prez
Then u sit bruh on the bench... who’s the coach? He needs some MILK! Damn

Nathaniel Friedman @freedarko
Tired: Ja Morant ROY Wired: Zion Williamson 6th Man of the Year

SportsNation @SportsNation
Zion Williamson: 1 career game, 4 three-pointers Ben Simmons: 203 career games, 2 three-pointers https://t.co/vlPiX6TCHs

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Summary of Zion’s debut: https://t.co/F7J2HsGDU5

ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Zion Williamson is the 1st player in NBA history to go 4-4 (or better) on threes in his NBA debut (via @EliasSports). His 22 points are the most in a player's debut in @PelicansNBA history, passing Anthony Davis. https://t.co/FoVIfNe7hS

Williamson had been recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 21 to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. He finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the 17-28 Pelicans.

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