The former Duke Basketball superstar sensation Zion Williamson will be in the spotlight with the New Orleans Pelicans this season as the schedule has started to leak.
When you play at Duke, you are playing primetime games on the biggest stage.
When you take the college basketball world by storm, become the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, and sign a record rookie contract with Jordan Brand, the NBA primetime stage will find you.
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That’s exactly what’s happened with Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans as the 2019-20 NBA schedule has been leaked.
Williamson and the Pelicans are expected to open the season against the reigning NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. However, the Raptors will obviously be without Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency.
The Clippers will open the season on the same night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Charania reports that the NBA is expected to open its season on October 22, but times and networks have not been announced yet.
Zion and the Pelicans will also get to take the court on perhaps the NBA’s biggest day in the regular season, Christmas Day.
On December 25, New Orleans will be in Denver taking on the Nuggets as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday afternoon. Times have not been announced for the Christmas Day games as of yet.
While the next important date on the Pelicans calendar truly doesn’t concern Zion Williamson, its major for the New Orleans franchise and potentially could be the first Zion vs. LeBron matchup of the year.
Charania reports that the Los Angles Lakers will be making the trip to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on November 27 as it’ll be Anthony Davis‘ first game back in the Bayou along with Williamson’s first time taking the floor against LeBron James.
Zion Williamson will try and shoulder the load for a Pelicans team that has high expectations coming into the season with its new and improved young core of players. Time will tell if New Orleans is ready to compete in a loaded Western Conference.