Zion Williamson

The NBA revealed its 2020-21 Rising Stars rosters Wednesday through NBA Top Shot. 

New Orleans Pelicans big man Zion Williamson, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant and Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball headline the group.

Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball headline NBA Rising Stars selections for 2020-21 season, as revealed on Top Shot. Rosters here: pic.twitter.com/fwmhlz3DX8

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 3, 2021

With the league scaling down All-Star Weekend because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rising Stars Challenge won't be played. However, officials still wanted to honor the best first- and second-year players from the United States and the rest of the world.

            

United States

• LaMelo Ball, G, Charlotte Hornets
• Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Tyrese Haliburton, G, Sacramento Kings
• Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat
• De'Andre Hunter, F, Atlanta Hawks
• Keldon Johnson, G/F, San Antonio Spurs 
• Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies
• Michael Porter Jr., F, Denver Nuggets
• Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans
• James Wiseman, C, Golden State Warriors

           

World

• Precious Achiuwa, F, Miami Heat
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, New Orleans Pelicans
• Deni Avdija, F, Washington Wizards
• RJ Barrett, G/F, New York Knicks
• Facundo Campazzo, G, Denver Nuggets
• Brandon Clarke, F, Memphis Grizzlies
• Luguentz Dort, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Rui Hachimura, F, Washington Wizards
• Theo Maledon, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Mychal Mulder, G, Golden State Warriors

            

Williamson and Morant were the two biggest locks.

The former has missed just one game and is averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 61.4 percent from the field. The latter is the reigning Rookie of the Year and has seen his points (19.1) and assists (7.8) climb since last season.

Likewise, Ball was the one rookie you could firmly cement as one of the Rising Stars. Beyond the 15.7 points and 6.4 assists he's averaging, he's shooting far better (44.6 percent overall and 36.7 percent on threes) than most expected out of the gate.

The same can't be said of Anthony Edwards. The No. 1 overall pick is hitting just 31.2 percent of his long-range jumpers, but his potential is evident. In addition, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard delivered what's likely to be the best dunk of the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNodFiofS8

New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley might be the biggest snub on either squad.

🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/tXEByXoAel

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 3, 2021

The 21-year-old rookie looks like he'll be a steal with the 25th overall pick. Through 32 games, he's averaging 12.6 points and 2.4 assists in 18.9 minutes on the floor.

Knicks fans will probably settle for the team qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Zion Williamson sang the praises of New Orleans Pelicans teammate Lonzo Ball.

Pelicans guard J.J. Redick brought up the topic of Ball on his podcast, The Old Man and The Three, and said the 23-year-old has become the "perfect fit" for New Orleans' tandem of Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Williamson, who was a guest on the show, concurred and said Ball has not only improved in visible areas on the court but also with less tangible qualities such as leadership.

As soon as the Pelicans landed Ball in the Anthony Davis trade and selected Williamson first overall in the 2019 draft, fans fantasized about what kind of highlight-reel plays they could combine to create. As Redick said, the pair seemed to complement one another nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbvo-HCMa3g

Due to Williamson's surgery to repair a torn meniscus, he and Ball didn't have much time to build any continuity. In the same podcast, the All-Star forward acknowledged how he had trouble adjusting even when he was healthy enough to play.

This year, New Orleans is getting to see what Ball and Williamson can do together. According to NBA.com, Ball has assisted Williamson more times (52) than anyone else on the roster, and Williamson is shooting 59.2 percent on feeds from the former UCLA star.

Of course, the looming question is whether Ball will get to stick around and continue to work alongside the 6'8", 284-pound powerhouse.

The 23-year-old guard is due to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, and nailing down his true value could be tricky for the Pelicans. He's averaging 14.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 39.7 percent from the perimeter.

You'd expect New Orleans to want Ball for the long term, but his situation isn't as straightforward as that of Ingram, who was a lock to receive a five-year, $158.3 million max deal. B/R's Jake Fischer reported the team has also explored his trade market: "You'd be hard-pressed to find a team New Orleans hasn't phoned to gauge interest in Ball, [Redick] and Eric Bledsoe."

That's not to say Ball is guaranteed to leave, but the Pelicans at least appear open to weighing all of their options.

Basketball's biggest and brightest stars are mere days away from taking over Atlanta for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.

But there are All-Star rosters to assemble before then.

That duty falls on the shoulders of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, named the game's two captains by virtue of being the highest vote-getters in their respective conferences. Durant will retain that honor despite being sidelined from the actual contest by a nagging hamstring injury.

James and Durant will make their selections during Thursday night's televised draft on TNT (8 p.m. ET). Fans who don't want to wait that long to see the rosters are in luck, as we're breaking out our crystal ball for a Team LeBron vs. Team Durant mock draft here.

                 

NBA All-Star Game 2021 Schedule

When: Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta

TV: TNT

Live Stream: Watch TNT

               

Team LeBron vs. Team Durant Mock Draft

Starters

As the overall leader in fan votes, James will get the first pick from the starter pool. Given the plethora of top-shelf talent available, there isn't a wrong pick.

But there might be a right one. James could do himself a ton of favors by starting off his squad with the reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

"In a game full of lobs and dunks, Antetokounmpo is a dream come true," ESPN's Kevin Pelton wrote. "He is by far the best dunker among the starters and probably the best defensive rebounder too."

The fact Antetokounmpo's motor only runs on full-throttle also means he'll be bringing it the entire game. James should want that on his team—and to not have to worry about defending Antetokounmpo.

For Durant, his first pick feels obvious: former running-mate Stephen Curry. He has seen the Chef's firepower firsthand and knows few (if any) offensive forces are as powerful.

James could mimic Durant's thinking by snagging his own former championship partner, Kyrie Irving. Durant could then come right back with Kawhi Leonard, who always seems to find an extra gear against James.

If James goes for the best player available here, Joel Embiid might be the pick. He's been nothing short of awesome this season, and good lord, a James-Antetokounmpo-Embiid frontcourt sounds ferocious. For Durant, answering that pick by adding Nikola Jokic seems the logical move to make, pushing the offensive ceiling even higher.

James could round out his starting five with Bradley Beal, whose shot-making might address the only question mark with this lineup. Durant could then close out the starter draft with Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, Durant's replacement in the starting lineup.

    

Starting Lineups

Team LeBron

LeBron James

Kyrie Irving

Bradley Beal

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Joel Embiid

                

Team Durant

Stephen Curry

Luka Doncic

Kawhi Leonard

Jayson Tatum

Nikola Jokic

                

Reserves

The first pick of the reserve round goes to Durant, and he should be quick to pounce on Brooklyn Nets teammate James Harden. Imagine a defense facing Harden at one backcourt spot and Curry at the other. That's the definition of poison-picking.

James could counter by sending his already absurd size-athleticism combo into the stratosphere with Zion Williamson. Get those two out there with Antetokounmpo and Embiid and it might be game over.

That might nudge Durant toward a big, athletic defender, making Ben Simmons the next selection. Send Damian Lillard to Team LeBron, and Durant could go back to the defensive end with Paul George.

James could be hunting for more offense, and few provide it in more fiery outbursts than Devin Booker, who should be particularly heated after getting passed over in the initial All-Star selections. Durant might go back to the defensive well again with Rudy Gobert, who might be the only player physically equipped to deal with all of Team LeBron's length and explosiveness.

That leaves James' close friend Chris Paul there for the taking, while Durant can respond with rising two-way wing Jaylen Brown. James could increase his team's excitement with Donovan Mitchell, and Durant could do the same with Zach LaVine, whose combination of dunk-contest hops and three-point contest touch seems perfect for this environment.

As a jumbo-sized playmaker himself, James might appreciate Julius Randle's ability to serve as a 6'8" secondary shot-creator. After Durant perks up his own ball-movement with Domantas Sabonis, James can close out the draft with Nikola Vucevic, Orlando's 6'11" offensive hub who can score from the post to the perimeter.

    

Benches

Team LeBron

Zion Williamson

Damian Lillard

Devin Booker

Chris Paul

Donovan Mitchell

Julius Randle

Nikola Vucevic

            

Team Durant

James Harden

Ben Simmons

Paul George

Rudy Gobert

Jaylen Brown

Zach LaVine

Domantas Sabonis  

It turns out getting to play basketball is more fun than not getting to play basketball.

Zion Williamson missed the New Orleans Pelicans' first 44 games as a rookie while recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

During an appearance on The Old Man & The Three podcast, the No. 1 overall pick explained the difficulty of having to sit on the sidelines (discussion begins at 53:40 mark):

"In my first year, I'm around a new group of guys, a new group of coaching staff, just new group of everything rookie year. And then I go down with an injury. At first, I wasn't traveling with the team. I was just always rehabbing. Man, any player knows the rehab process is terrible. You're the first one in and last one out while watching practices. Your days are so long. You never feel like you're getting any sleep, if I'm being honest. The tough part when I came back was trying to fit in and play catch-up."

Williamson went on to say he couldn't fully enjoy actually stepping onto the court because he felt pressure to seamlessly fit in to what the Pelicans had been building.

"The fun part of it wasn't there," he said. "I couldn't even enjoy certain moments. It would just be, 'On to the next. This game, don't mess up with this. Don't be the reason the team loses because of this.'"

The 20-year-old contrasted that with the 2020-21 campaign in which he has missed just one game.

"Now my second year, I'm there from the start," he said. "I get to grow with y'all. It's fun, I have fun. I feel like I'm back in college again. I'm just getting to have fun with it. And when I'm having fun on a day-to-day basis, yeah, the days are different due to COVID, but it does feel like things go about fast because I am having fun."

That enjoyment is reflected in Williamson's performance. He was named a Western Conference All-Star thanks to his 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.7 blocks per game. His field-goal percentage has also climbed from an already impressive 58.3 in 2019-20 to 61.4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vElisQ_y2s

The Pelicans sit 11th in the West at 15-19, so they might wind up missing the playoffs for the third straight year. But that was somewhat expected when New Orleans lost Derrick Favors to free agency and traded Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks.

While Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe arrived to bolster the squad, the front office clearly isn't pushing in all of its chips to contend right now. Sooner or later, all of those draft picks will come in handy.

Williamson's progress—and more importantly his overall health—provide more than enough reason to remain excited about what the Pelicans can do in the future.

Arguably the best video of Zion Williamson's high school career had very little to do with his play on the floor. It was all about the man guarding him.

With Williamson's Spartanburg Day School facing one of their rivals, an extremely undersized opponent named Bryson Bishop checks in and prepares to guard the future No. 1 overall pick of the NBA Draft—who couldn't believe this was the player defending him. 

Williamson revisited the viral moment with New Orleans Pelicans teammate JJ Redick for an upcoming episode of his podcast The Old Man & The Three and finally shared his side of the moment:

Sneak peak ahead of tomorrow @jj_redick @Zionwilliamson @talter pic.twitter.com/RmMs1pkQzK

— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) March 2, 2021

"I've got a lot of respect for him for doing that," Williamson said. "His teammates were so out of it that he was just trying to give them energy. And for him to be the one to come over there and do that, I've got nothing but respect for him for doing that. But yeah, when it was happening in the moment I was like, 'No way, don't disrespect me like that.'" 

Bishop is now a senior point guard and captain at Spartanburg Christian Academy and has led his team to back-to-back state titles. Williamson will make his first NBA All-Star appearance this month. The mismatch between the two may exist, but their will to compete lives on. As does the video of a brief time the two crossed paths in high school. 

The 2021 NBA Dunk Contest lacks two things to this point: big names and memorable former participants. 

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards and Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges reportedly have all turned down invitations.

They join notable former participants such as Chicago's Zach LaVine, Orlando's Aaron Gordon and Portland's Derrick Jones Jr. in passing on the event.

Instead, the league's current participants include Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons and a pair of rookies in New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin and Indiana Pacers guard Cassius Stanley. 

Missing out on Edwards is a major loss. He had arguably the dunk of the year in February and has already compiled an impressive dunk reel:

Brown is no stranger to a highlight yam himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2mVYBp94mo

And we all know what players like LaVine, Gordon and Jones bring to the table:

One player who might have added a major jolt of excitement to the event was Williamson. That's off the table now too. 

It's another blow to the league's All-Star festivities. Superstars like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have already questioned whether the league should hold an All-Star Game during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Now, many of the most exciting options for the Slam Dunk Contest have decided to sit out the event. 

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball said Monday he hopes to play alongside teammates Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram for a long time.

"For sure. I love playing with those guys," Ball told reporters after a 129-124 victory over the Utah Jazz. "I'm also really cool with them off the floor as well. We're all young. I think we can do some good things especially in the future coming up."

Ball was the focus of early rumors ahead of the March 25 NBA trade deadline, but those have seemingly started to fade.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported Monday there's "little expectation" the 2017 second overall pick will be moved as the Pelicans' front office has been "impressed' with his play since his name popped up in the rumor mill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG3JwaRrUhQ

Ball, who struggled with his shot over the season's first two months, was far more effective at the offensive end in February. He averaged 16.5 points and 3.7 threes while shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc in 15 appearances.

The 23-year-old UCLA product opened March with 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks in 39 minutes to help the Pelicans beat the Jazz, who own the NBA's best record at 27-8.

New Orleans is lagging a bit behind, sitting 11th in the loaded Western Conference at 15-19, but beating Utah showcased the team's upside.

Ball is an important piece of the puzzle now that he's playing a more efficient offensive game, and that's not lost on his teammates. Williamson explained after Thursday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks:

"Me and Lonzo, our games complement each other's so well that there are times me and Lonzo are just playing basketball out there. Whether it's passing and chasing, me setting the screen, him coming to set the screen for me, we complement each other so well then at the same time when we're out there, we give each other confidence, telling each other to shoot and that we trust each other to make the right decision within the situation. I think we just complement each other well. We give each other confidence."

The Pelicans have more talent than their record would indicate, which is likely why Ball's name started to circulate in speculation for a while early in the campaign.

The focus has shifted to potentially moving either Eric Bledsoe or JJ Redick to upgrade the roster for a surge during the second half of the regular season, per Fischer.

In the short term, New Orleans has a pair of home games before the All-Star break: Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls (15-18) and Thursday against the Miami Heat (17-17).

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson isn't surprised by teammate Lonzo Ball's recent success.

"Lonzo's a great player," Williamson said Monday night after the Pelicans edged the Utah Jazz 129-124. "I just wish he got the full respect he deserves."

"Lonzo is a great player, I just wish he got the full respect he deserves." - @Zionwilliamson pic.twitter.com/GSe6f7OFfx

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

Williamson and Brandon Ingram each notched 26 points, but Ball was right behind them with 23 points.

Williamson had elaborated on Ball's playmaking abilities after the pair combined for 54 points and 14 assists in a 129-125 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

"Me and Lonzo, our games complement each other's so well that there are times me and Lonzo are just playing basketball out there," he said, per Jacob Rude of Lonzo Wire. "... We give each other confidence."

It has taken Ball some time to get going since he was drafted with the second pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. He has played no less than 30.3 minutes per game in each of his four seasons, but he's breaking out in his second season with New Orleans.

The UCLA product entered Monday's game averaging a career-high 14.5 points with a team-high 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes per game. He has also improved his subpar play from beyond the arc, shooting a career-best 39.3 percent. His field-goal (42.8) and free-throw percentages (76.3) are also career highs.

"The guy who hasn't gotten credit—he's gotten credit, but not near as much as he deserves—is Lonzo," head coach Stan Van Gundy said on The Lowe Post (via Christian Clark of NOLA.com).

As much as Williamson and Van Gundy are piling on the praise, the Pelicans are only 15-19, and Ball's assist, steal and rebound (4.2 per game) figures are the lowest of his career.

That could mean moving Ball, and New Orleans has reportedly been gauging trade interest in him ahead of the March 25 deadline, per Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer.

All it took was a matchup against the team with the league's best record for the New Orleans Pelicans to get back on track.

New Orleans ended its two-game losing streak with a 129-124 win over the Utah Jazz in Monday's Western Conference showdown at Smoothie King Center. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball led the way for the victors, who improved to 15-19 on the season.

Notable showings from Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson were not enough for the Jazz, who still have the best record in the NBA at 27-8 even though they have now dropped two of three.

Zion. Bully ball. https://t.co/pyVZK4rB7z

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 2, 2021

          

Notable Player Stats

• Zion Williamson, F, NO: 26 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST
• Brandon Ingram, F, NO: 26 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB
• Lonzo Ball, G, NO: 23 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB
• Bojan Bogdanovic, F, UTA: 31 PTS, 7 REB, 3 STL, 7-of-11 3PT
• Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 21 PTS, 8 AST, 4 REB
• Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 22 PTS, 9 REB, 5 BLK
• Jordan Clarkson, G, UTA: 20 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST

          

Pelicans Ride Dominant Third Quarter, Balanced Attack to Impressive Victory

Frankly, the Pelicans should be better than they are with Williamson and Ingram as All-Star-caliber players, Ball taking another step as an all-around playmaker and a supporting cast that features notable veterans such as Steven Adams and JJ Redick.

All that talent makes them a dangerous opponent for some of the top teams in the league because they can fulfill their potential on any given night.

That was the case Monday as Ingram glided through the defense for a number of looks in the lane, Ball filled up the box score with multiple threes on his way to 14 first-half points and Williamson contributed on the boards even though he had just nine points by intermission.

WHO ELSE BUT JOSH#Pelicans by 5 with 12 seconds to go! pic.twitter.com/9m0U8bVhBb

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

HUGE shot from @ZO2_ gives him 23 on the night and the #Pelicans lead by 14! pic.twitter.com/LVMmwbnMZ0

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

Zion draws four (4) defenders and dishes to JJ for the triple!#Pelicans lead by 3! pic.twitter.com/7wvPhDNA72

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

Zion had 15 points in the third quarter - that's tied for the second-most he's had in any quarter in his career.

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) March 2, 2021

Zion absolutely taking over in Q3. Just sit back and watch him work. pic.twitter.com/uTEtC8ncrl

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

JJ IS ON 🔥🔥🔥

Pels lead by 17 after the and-1! pic.twitter.com/pWlGHiawbh

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2021

It was clear the Jazz prioritized at least containing Williamson in the first half, but Ball and Ingram kept the home team within striking distance and gave that talent a chance to win down the stretch.

The game flipped in the third quarter when Zion was far more aggressive attacking the basket. Not only did that help him find his touch as a scorer and put additional stress on Utah's frontcourt, but it also opened up looks for his teammates because the only chance the visitors had at stopping him was running additional defenders his way.

Considering the strength of Utah's defense, Williamson scoring 15 points as his team won the third quarter 40-24 was one of the most impressive stretches of his All-Star season. The Jazz had no answer to his power while steamrolling to the basket, and it was easy to see why there is still so much long-term optimism in New Orleans despite the poor record.

The fourth quarter largely belonged to his teammates. Redick's four-point play, Ingram's smooth release from mid-range and a stretch in which Ball drilled multiple pull-ups in the lane and a triple provided enough cushion to survive Utah's late push.

           

Utah's Final Charge Comes Up Just Short

At first, it appeared as if the Jazz, who may be well on their way to earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, were going to cruise to victory with their balanced attack featuring six players averaging double figures and a defense that ranks No. 3 in the league, per NBA.com.

Mitchell, who scored a combined 61 points in his previous two games, played the role of facilitator in the early going as that balance was on full display.

Bogdanovic caught fire from deep, Clarkson provided an immediate spark off the bench, Mike Conley darted in and out of the defense to create looks for teammates, Gobert flashed into space around the rim, and Mitchell kept the ball moving whenever New Orleans sent additional defenders his way.

JC with 60 straight games with a made 3 🔥#MACU3 | @MountainAmerica pic.twitter.com/HOBgcyNqU0

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 2, 2021

&🕷 oop pic.twitter.com/X8L5glU1KC

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 2, 2021

rudy does it all pic.twitter.com/ZeACEvzNKC

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 2, 2021

It seemed to be a perfect formula, but everything that worked in the first half went missing in the third quarter.

Bogdanovic scored two points in the period after dropping 19 in the first half, Mitchell struggled with his outside shot, and the defense that stifled the Pelicans out of the gates could not stop Williamson and Co. from racking up points as the Jazz fell behind by double digits.

In fact, they were down 122-108 with less than four minutes remaining when they dialed up the pressure on defense to create turnovers and contested shots that led to looks on the other end. With Mitchell largely leading the way, they clawed all the way back to 125-124 but lost their momentum when Gobert was whistled for a questionable loose-ball foul while going for an offensive rebound and putback that could have won it.

It was an admirable charge, but the call and Utah's lackluster play in the third quarter to create the deficit were too much to overcome.

         

What's Next?

Both teams are in action Wednesday when the Pelicans host the Chicago Bulls and the Jazz travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers.