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Andrew LopezESPN
NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Pelicans ’experiments with Zion Williamson as the main ball handler this season have been relegated primarily to recovery and pushing him up or to the team that does it out of dead balls and free throws.
But Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, with starting point Lonzo Ball out with a hip injury, Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy decided it was time for a stronger dose of “Point Zion.”
“Tonight, we decided we were going to play there all night,” Van Gundy said. “At the very least, whenever he could go. He had the ball in his hands all the time and the ability to make plays and everything else.”
The result was perhaps the best game of Williamson’s career: 37 points (two over his career), 15 rebounds in the race and eight assists that tied the race, all in a 101-94 victory.
“He played the game the way you’re supposed to play. It was fantastic,” Van Gundy said.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, 20-year-old Williamson became the youngest player in league history with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in an NBA game.
“It seems natural to me,” Williamson said of the ball handling tasks on his shoulders. “I’ve been playing the game since I was 4. Right now, it seems natural to me. I’m still learning, but certain things feel natural.”
Although the Pelicans began to lean toward Williamson as the starter of the offensive in early February, Friday’s game made a big difference. According to data from Second Spectrum, Williamson increased the ball 35 times, the highest he has done all season. His previous best mark was 25. He also increased it 12 times in the fourth quarter, tying to the maximum he has had in a single quarter.
Williamson said his confidence has grown over the past two months and credits his stepfather, Lee Anderson, and Pelicans assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon was also partly responsible for Williamson’s jump to the baseline in the fourth quarter that brought down the Pelicans bench.
“Yeah, I have it in my bag. That’s all [Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] I said, I want to be a perfectionist, “Williamson said.” I want to get the closest and easiest shot. But my teammates and especially T-Spoon. She said, ‘Z, just give me one. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to shoot it again. “
“When I shot it, I thought it was good. I liked the result, to be honest. It tells me all the games, but tonight, it was like, it just gives one. I tried it. And it worked.”
While the Pelicans went to Williamson more out of necessity Friday with Ball out, it’s something New Orleans will go to more often anyway.
“We want him to have more experience with these things in the future because I think that’s where his future is in this game,” Van Gundy said. “Really yes.” It just needs reps and more and more and we’ve increased it throughout the year by giving it more and more opportunities. We would like to give you more stuff in the future. We will try to build some more things for him. “