As Zion Williamson prepares for his first matchup against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, the No. 1 overall pick isn’t necessarily focused on facing his idol.
Instead, Williamson and the Pelicans enter the contest on Tuesday night just three games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference and are fighting to make the postseason.
The Grizzlies have lost three straight while the Pelicans have won back-to-back games to gain ground in the playoff race. The Pelicans have 25 games remaining this season and know each matchup is significant.
“I’m looking at the perspective as we need every win,” Williamson said of the matchup on Sunday night after defeating the Golden State Warriors. “We’re trying to fight for that eighth seed in the playoffs.”
While Williamson isn’t focused squarely on playing James for the first time, he said the four-time NBA MVP deserves more respect than he currently receives.
“I used to watch him all of the time, especially when he was in Cleveland the first time,” Williamson said. “He’s just an incredible player to watch; he always held his own. Sometimes, I feel like he doesn’t get the respect he deserves but that’s not for me to decide.”
Williamson has scored at least 20 points in eight consecutive games, just one shy of the all-time record by a teenager, set by Carmelo Anthony during the 2003-04 season. Williamson is averaging 25.3 points per game over that span.
The game is set to tip-off from L.A. at 10 p.m. ET.
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