[jwplayer bn1d4NYZ]
The history of the New Orleans Pelicans forever changed when the franchise was awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery on May 14, 2019.
Entering the night, the Pelicans were slotted seventh and held just a 19% chance of moving into the top three selections. Additionally, the Pelicans had just a 6% chance of winning the lottery outright and they ultimately earned the top pick over 13 other teams.
Of course, earning the top pick last year meant the first chance of drafting Zion Williamson. He was seen as a generational talent that could immediately change the direction of any franchise but to land in New Orleans had another type of meaning.
After franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis requested a trade, the organization was potentially facing an uncertain future. Once the Pelicans landed the top pick, those feelings immediately evaporated and led to one incredible reaction from the Pelicans’ ticket office.
A year ago today… 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BU1TUsbBjP
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) May 14, 2020
One year later, the hype surrounding Williamson was real but only felt in a small sample size.
Williamson appeared in only 19 games prior to the season suspension after debuting in January following knee surgery. He made an immediate impact with the Pelicans in those 19 games, averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
While the best of Williamson is yet to come, his arrival in New Orleans helped inject much-needed energy and positivity into an organization that desperately needed it.
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