Duke basketball: Zion Williamson receives unprecedented benefit

Duke basketball legend Zion Williamson now owns a unique honor for his age.

One result of all the NBA roster shakeups across the past week is that former Duke basketball one-and-done Zion Williamson can now say he has been with the New Orleans Pelicans longer than any of the franchise’s other current players. Naturally, that will be true for as long the 6-foot-6 sensation stays put.

Yup, despite still being too young to legally drink, Williamson is suddenly the tenured vet in the Big Easy. Though many may see this nugget as somewhat insignificant, there should at least be some symbolic benefit in “the future” of the Pelicans holding such a title. Besides, it must be an NBA record for a mere 20-year-old to predate all his teammates in a particular city.

As the top overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson signed back on July 1, 2019. Granted, that is only five days earlier than when Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Duke basketball product Brandon Ingram wound up with the Pelicans in 2019’s blockbuster Anthony Davis trade.

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Plus, there are four others still in town who arrived before the end of July last year, including Blue Devil great JJ Redick.

The shrinking Duke basketball band in New Orleans

Two other Blue Devils contributed to Williamson’s newfound distinction. Jahlil Okafor ended his two-year stay in New Orleans by inking a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent; meanwhile, Frank Jackson did not receive a new contract from the Pelicans after three years as a pro and is still on the lookout for an NBA home elsewhere.

Now, Williamson, who averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in only 27.8 minutes per game across his 24 rookie outings, is one of only three remaining Bayou Blue Devils. But the trio — still including Ingram since the All-Star agreed to a five-year extension on Tuesday — represents the cream of the former Dukie quintet.

New Orleans will be looking to improve on last season’s 30-42 record (13th in the Western Conference) when the 2020-21 season tips on Dec. 22. While the league has yet to reveal the schedules, it has announced that each team will play only 72 games in the regular season.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on Zion Williamson plus other Duke basketball news and views.