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As the youngest player on the New Orleans Pelicans, there is a significant age gap between Zion Williamson and J.J. Redick, the oldest player on the team.
Williamson will turn 20 years old in July and is the fourth-youngest player in the NBA, behind Alen Smailagić, Talen Horton-Tucker and Sekou Doumbouya. Conversely, Redick, who will turn 36 next month, entered the 2019-20 season as the ninth-oldest player.
In an interview with Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com, Williamson said the most surprising thing about his rookie season is the age difference between him and some of the veterans on the roster.
In college, you ask them, ‘What class do you have? What are you doing tomorrow?’ In the NBA, it’s, ‘Hey JJ, E’Twaun (Moore), Darius (Miller), what do you have going on tomorrow?’ (They respond), ‘Oh, I’ve got to take my kid to school.’ Wait, you have to take your kid to school? I’m (only) 19. I’m not thinking about that. So that’s been a funny change. But (on the court), the most surprising thing is the pace of the game.
As a veteran, Redick has often spoken highly about Williamson.
Redick appreciates the type of person he is and has raved about his character. Redick had previously heard from Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski that Williamson was a great kid and he has seen that firsthand this year.
Though there is a significant age gap between Williamson and Redick, there is a mutual respect there and the two appear to have developed a close bond this season in New Orleans.
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