Zion Williamson Will Win an MVP Award If He Stays Healthy, Says Unnamed NBA HC

Lofty expectations come with going No. 1 overall in the NBA draft.

So, it's unsurprising that an anonymous NBA head coach projected New Orleans Pelicans 2019 top overall pick Zion Williamson to win a league MVP award at some point in his career.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps surveyed 20 people in and around the NBA about whether Williamson, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic or Trae Young is better to build a franchise around.

"I'm only taking Luka because of health concerns about Zion," a Western Conference coach told Bontemps. "If [Zion's] healthy, I think he'll win an MVP. That's how good I think he is."

Bontemps' survey resulted in 17 first-place votes and 77 total votes for Dallas' Doncic, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, while Williamson landed 11 second-place votes and 52 votes overall. Morant, who went second overall behind Williamson to Memphis, came in third with 47 votes. Atlanta Hawks All-Star point guard Young garnered 24 votes to finish last.

As for Williamson's health, the 19-year-old Duke product underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late October, which delayed his regular-season debut until Jan. 22.

Williamson started 19 games before the NBA announced the suspension of its 2019-20 season because of COVID-19 on March 11. He scored at least 20 points in 16 of those appearances, breaking several records along the way:

"

Zion Williamson has extended his 20-point streak to 12 consecutive games, the fifth-longest active 20-point streak in the league and extending his own record for the longest by a teenager in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/BNwlxiWCCa

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 4, 2020"

At the time of the stoppage, Williamson was averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 58.9 percent shooting from the field.

However, that is a small sample size. The long-term durability of Williamson's 6'6", 285-pound frame seems to be a widespread concern.

"Health. He'd be [No. 1] otherwise," a Western Conference scout said to Bontemps. "Those other guys are going to be great for 10-plus years. There's just too much [injury] risk [with Williamson]. Now, if I want to just be great now? Take him. He's just unique and great for today's NBA."

Nobody hopes Williamson holds up more than the 28-36 Pelicans.

New Orleans is depending on Williamson to replace Anthony Davis, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, as the franchise's face. Beyond that, Williamson could do what nobody has been able to do and bring an NBA championship to the Bayou.

The Pels only made the playoffs twice since taking Davis No. 1 overall in 2012.