Raptors fans to miss Zion’s NBA debut
Pelicans take cautious route in sitting rookie for Tuesday opener
TORONTO Zion Williamson won’t make his NBA debut on Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors. The New Orleans Pelicans intend to be cautious with his minor knee issue, according to reports.
Raptors fans won’t care too much — they’ll be so overwhelmed by the ring ceremony and banner raising celebrating last year’s improbable championship, but NBA supporters have to be bummed out at least a little bit by the news.
After all, there hasn’t been a rookie entering the league with this much hype since Lebron James long ago.
It would have been fun to see the high-flyer play his first professional game.
Williamson will be sidelined for “a period of weeks,” according to ESPN, after averaging 23.3 points per game on 71.4 per cent shooting in the pre-season.
The Raptors visit New Orleans next month, so there’s a good chance they don’t face Williamson at all this season.
KING JAMES DETHRONED
If you missed it earlier this week, four-time MVP James wasn’t selected by league general managers as the NBA’S top small forward for the first time since 2005.
That honour went to some guy named Kawhi Leonard, who was also chosen as best defender, best perimeter defender, and the most impactful off-season acquisition.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was tabbed to repeat as MVP and the Bucks were the choice to win the East, while Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers enter the year as the title favourites, collecting 46 per cent of the votes, compared to 36 per cent for the Bucks.
This is the 18th annual survey, conducted by Nba.com’s John Schuhmann. Williamson was the top choice for rookie of the year and best rookie in five years (earning 68 per cent of the vote for both categories) and was picked as the league’s most athletic player by 41 per cent of the GMS.
Canadian Nickeil Alexander-walker was picked as the biggest draft steal (32 per cent) and countryman Jamal Murray tied for fourth among players expected to have breakout seasons (Toronto’s Pascal Siakam was an honourable mention).
Toronto’s OG Anunoby got votes as the league’s best perimeter defender while head coach Nick Nurse received recognition for his in-game adjustments.
Fred Vanvleet was recognized for his abilities off the bench, Kyle Lowry for his toughness.
CANUCK TURNING HEADS
It’s no wonder GMS are high on Alexander-walker, who starred at Vaughan Secondary in Vaughan, Ont., before heading to St. Louis and then Tennessee for the rest of his high school years, and then on to Virginia Tech.
Alexander-walker has gotten better every year and helped lead Canada to a silver medal in the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, leading that tournament in scoring.
He was one of the best players at Las Vegas Summer League in July, and is expected to push incumbents Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, J.J. Redick and Josh Hart for playing time at guard on a deep Pelicans roster after again exceeding all expectations in the pre-season.
In four games this month, Alexander-walker has averaged 15 points and 4.8 assists per game in only 18.4 minutes.
Meanwhile, cousin Shai Gilgeous-alexander, a centre piece of the Paul George trade, averaged 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder and will be a featured player there.
HE’S NOT THEIR BUDDY
Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings appear to be far apart on contract extension talks.
Hield, one of the league’s best shooters, said a four-year, Us$90-million offer was insulting.
“It’s not always about ‘Less than the max.’
“It’s just, like, something that is reasonable, whereas it’s not an insult,” he said.