Five Duke basketball products who could make 2021 NBA All-Star Game
By Matt Giles
Former Duke basketball forward Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans: 11-13, No. 12 in Western Conference
Fan voting: No. 6 among Western Conference frontcourt players
Season stats: The second-year pro is averaging 23.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 59.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 69.9 percent from the foul line.
Stating case: His season stats aren’t much more impressive than those of Brandon Ingram. So then why does Zion Williamson sit a few notches higher in fan voting right now? Obviously, it’s his popularity, even predating his otherworldly displays as a one-and-done Duke basketball phenom. As a magnet for ratings, chances are the NBA will find a way to include the big fella on the roster.
All-Star probability for Zion Williamson: 65 percent