Since Zion Williamson’s debut in mid-January, no player has excelled more on the court than Lonzo Ball. The chemistry between the two players has been oft-discussed already and most prominently on display with their repeated long-range alley-oop connections.
Considering the few amount of games played with the two, it’s the sign of a truly special connection that they’ve been able to adapt to one another on the fly so quickly. Not only has it caught the attention of the fans but also the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.
On Saturday, Griffin took part in the Pelicans Playback social show while watching New Orleans Christmas Day win against the Nuggets and had this to say on Ball and Williamson.
“A big part of it is the chemistry you see with Lonzo and Zion. They have a special connection. I think Nicolo Melli getting more minutes, and him starting to become a key part of the rotation has been essential as well. Those three guys work incredibly well as a unit. Zion gives us another player who can create vertical thrust in the offense, and Lonzo can pick defenses apart with his passing.”
Ball and Williamson continue to have one of the highest net ratings in the league since the latter’s debut. Of duos to have played at least 400 minutes together since Jan. 22, Ball and Williamson are fourth in net rating at 15.2 with two of the three pairings ahead of them being fellow Pelicans.
Expanded to three players to include Nicolo Melli and the rating isn’t quite as gaudy but still a positive at 2.6. The trio have excelled together in the last nearly two months of the season and had set the Pelicans up for a great run at the playoffs that may or may not still come.
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