New Orleans Pelicans: 3 ideas for a Zion Williamson children’s book

With the NBA season on hold, Zion Williamson is reading to his younger brother, but the superhero-like rookie seems like a great center for a warm story.

Coming into the league with a million-dollar smile and a multi-million-dollar work ethic, Zion Williamson has won the hearts of NBA fans, but now using his time away from the court wisely, he’s starting to win the hearts of younger fans.

As more pieces of life around the United States drift away from normal as we feel the effects of the global pandemic, some are using their time to help others, even through all the distress going on in the world.

Continuing to grow as a community leader, Zion Williamson is stepping up in a big way during this time of chaos.

Fans might recall that Williamson announced he’d use his own funds to help pay the wages of Smoothie King Center employees who are currently out of work.

However, in his free time, Zion is finding ways to give back to the young people in America, many of whom are out of school in order to protect themselves from illness.

On Sunday, he was taking the time to read to his own younger brother.

Since Zion seems to enjoy the literary experience and the sharing of its joys, he seems like a good candidate for either a one-off or series of children’s books with wholesome messages for the young people of America.

Sometimes seeming like just a big kid himself thanks to his friendly and loose personality, it seems like Zion is someone who can easily relate with kids around the world, which is why so many young people flood the New Orleans Pelicans tunnel before games to hunt signatures.

While it’ll be hard to get to the status Stephen Curry holds among young fans in the league, it could be interesting to see if Zion Williamson can climb into a similar tier among youngsters, something that would be good for his brand and the Pelicans organization.

1. Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball join a three-man team with the Ugly Duckling

Working with the classics is always a foundational part of the children’s writing market, especially when using such an essential figure like the Ugly Duckling. Already a figure of children’s literature history, it would be a character that would warm the hearts of many.

In the classic story, the Ugly Duckling runs away from home after his brother and sister ducks aren’t big fans of his different colors. From there, several other duck families continue to throw shade at the Young Ugly, until he finds a family that loves his differences.

Finding a way to fit into a classic story, our hero, the Ugly Duckling, is sick of getting picked on by the other ducks in the playground, mostly because his jump shot is very broken.

One day, the duckling is shooting jump shots in his driveway, crying while continuing to brick open threes.

Suddenly, Lonzo Ball, Zion Williamson, and New Orleans Pelicans’ shooting guru Fred Vinson are walking down the street eating street tacos when they see a sad duck struggling with his shot.

Zion asks the Ugly Duckling what’s wrong and reaffirms that you don’t need a jump shot to be a great player, you just need to work hard.

However, after Lonzo and Coach Fred help the duckling bring his wing in a little more on the right side, the Duckling is straight cash from 24-feet out.

Zion, Lonzo, and The Ugly Duckling then travel to the local basketball court, where they find three of the bully ducks playing a round of 21, but then challenge them to a little three on three. Of course, Zion and Lonzo are NBA players so the game goes fairly quickly.

On the last point of the game, Team Ugly Duckling is up 20-2 and the team captain himself is waiting on the wing.

Lonzo dumps it to Zion in the low post, who then whips it out to the Ugly Duckling for a wide-open bucket; game, set, match.

2. The Giant Dunker that Could

This one seems like it could’ve had some basis in reality, especially considering what the New Orleans Pelicans were starting to put together a storybook year.

In a story that’s a whole lot different than The Little Engine that Could, Zion Williamson plays the role of a young rookie returning from a knee injury with the chance to bring his team together for a special season.

Propelling his team through his energetic dunks, the all-around hard work, and kindness brought the Giant Dunker that Could helps his team come together, even though the hard times were crushing them in the early stages (like a 13-game losing streak).

While his team initially struggles, they learn to play better basketball and learn how to play as a team while their new Giant Dunker continues to give the team a new motor to spark excitement.

Even though they struggled against the Los Angeles Lakers and thrived against the Portland Trail Blazers, it’s what they were able to do as a team that really made them great.

The Giant Dunker that Could refuses to let people give him all the praise, as he sees how hard his teammates worked to get a trophy at the end of the season.

Instead of taking all the praise for himself even though they couldn’t find a way to bring home the hardware, he buys everyone a pair of brand new shoes so they can jump even higher next year.

Perhaps the most realistic tale of any in this article, the storybook season for the New Orleans Pelicans isn’t a central focus in the world right now, but it was fun while it lasted.

3. Hart hears a High-Five (and it’s from Zion!!!)

In a story that tells of one of the best days of Josh Hart‘s life and one that makes Zion Williamson a hero, a meme finally gets its redemption.

Far too often, the New Orleans Pelicans have left Hart hanging on the edge of his seat, throwing up a hand for his teammates to greet with a friendly slap, only to receive the room-temperature embrace from either a ghost or the air handling unit.

https://twitter.com/joshhart/status/923640173786578945

Even his own teammates on the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t good at simply slapping their good friend on the hand to make him feel validated for his celebrations.

https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1183185032518819840

Setting up our story, Josh Hart is a kind local man who grows ears of corn, some of the best ears of corn this side of the continental divide. However, he has one problem, no one ever gives him the high five he feels he deserves after a sale.

Time after time, Hart throws his customer five only to be looked at with sarcasm. In fact, the only reason Hart grows corn is that it grows at a level high enough to complete a successful mock high-five, albeit with an inanimate object.

One day, Hart is selling corn and is still constantly getting left hanging, but he hears of a new corn purchaser coming to town, someone looking for a corn salesman who likes high-fives.

Hart asks each customer who arrives at the stand, “are you my high five in shining armor?” which just seems to make people uncomfortable, but Hart understands that it’ll all pay off.

Then, just before he gives up hope, a thundering man with a large frame and awesome shoes arrives at the stand. Hart asks if he wants to buy some corn, and the man replies yes, but only if you’re willing to hang five afterward.

Setting up a decade-long friendship, the man was Zion Williamson and he now exclusively purchases corn from Hart, as the two are forever bonded by their love for high-fives.

Certainly, if you’ve learned anything from this article, it’s that I shouldn’t write children’s books, but that Zion Williamson should still be at the center of some stories for years to come, even if they’re not traditional stories.