10 of Zion Williamson’s Best Dunks for the New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans’ rookie phenom Zion Williamson has been using his unique combination of power and leaping ability to shake rims and delight fans all over the league.

When the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with the overall number one pick, they already knew he could dunk. They’ve since found out just how special he is.

His 45-inch vertical leap was the stuff of legend and a record at the time for Duke University. It was even more incredible considering Zion Williamson is 6-foot-6 and over 280 pounds.

He spent his freshman year at Duke wowing the nation with his rare combination of hops and raw power. Here’s every dunk from his freshman year, courtesy of ESPN:

Things didn’t change when Zion Williamson finally made his much-hyped return to the NBA after suffering an early season injury.

Zion has been a one-man wrecking ball since entering the NBA, averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds while filling highlight reels nightly with his superhuman dunks.

He has dunked in traffic over much taller opponents, looking like a stronger, younger Charles Barkley in the process.

Zion Williamson has dunked on run outs, especially when closing out on perimeter shooters, not only making their shots difficult but making them pay with a dunk on the other end if they don’t get back.

And of course Zion Williamson has dunked off alley-oops, often soaring into the air to catch balls that look like they are headed for the stands.

The Williamson/Lonzo Ball alley-oop has already become one of the most exciting plays in the league and the two are just getting started.

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Zion Williamson has a chance to go down not only as a great player, but one of the greatest dunkers in the history of the NBA.

Let’s take a look at ten of Zion Williamson’s best dunks for the New Orleans Pelicans so far, in no particular order.

Better Get Back on Defense

If there is one thing Zion Williamson has taught the NBA in his short career with the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s that if you don’t get back on defense, you’re going to pay.

When teams try to get the Pelicans to switch on the perimeter pick-and-roll, Zion Williamson is often tasked with closing out on the long-range shooter.

After defending the shot, Zion just keeps going, which often leads to run-out dunks on the other end.

If teams sleep on the run-out, or just don’t get back, they are going to end up on a highlight reel, as the Timberwolves found out here:

When was the last time you saw a man this big do a windmill? The answer is never.

Zion Williamson is re-defining what it means to be a big in the NBA and is doing it with style.

The Hail Mary

Zion Williamson is certainly not a perfect player for the New Orleans Pelicans.

There are parts of his game he needs to work on and fine tune, but catching long passes from Ball is not one of them.

Ball and Williamson have formed one of the best alley-oop combinations in the league and Lonzo has shown that he doesn’t need much space to find his high-flying teammate.

Ball’s pinpoint passes are reminiscent of another point guard named Jason Kidd, who was a pioneer of the type of Hail Mary alley-oops that Ball and Zion are perfecting.

Ball threaded this beautiful pass through a small window from the 3-point line on the other end of the floor and Zion Williamson was ready.

This is another example of how Zion is making teams pay if they don’t get back on defense.

With Ball acting as quarterback, Zion Williamson just needs a crack of daylight to get a big dunk.

The Back Cut Alley-Oop

While Zion Williamson is primarily known for running the floor for fast break dunks, he has also shown that he can find space in half court sets for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Zion’s foot speed allows him to beat opponents off the dribble and bully his way to the hoop, but he is also able to take advantage off the ball.

Williamson has a quick spin move that he hasn’t quite yet mastered as a go-to post move when he is handling the ball.

But he has gotten very good at spinning off opponents for back cuts that can lead to alley-oop dunks, like this masterpiece against the Lakers.

When Zion catches an opponent leaning, he can spin to the hoop, which is effective on the pick-and-roll as well.

Zion’s strength forces opponents to try and body him, and when they do, Williamson can make them pay with his quickness.

The Wrecking Ball Clears the Lane

Zion Williamson has unbelievable grace and athleticism for a man of his size, which he has shown catching all sorts of lobs from teammates.

But let’s not forget what the man really is: a human wrecking ball.

One of Zion’s primary moves is to just plow his way into the lane, taking out whatever gets in his path, which often leaves him alone to try and rip off the rim.

There’s not much opponents can do. If they are brave enough to get set and try to take a charge, it’s likely they’ll end up a permanent part of the floor.

If they can’t get set, then Zion just goes through them, clears the lane and then dunks, as he did here against Dallas:

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Zion Williamson is a finesse player, but he is also one of the most powerful men in the NBA.

If he can’t find space to catch passes then he can make it for himself, whether it be on a primary post move or getting his own offensive rebound.

Put Back in Traffic Over Two Defenders

Zion Williamson has shown that he can clear the lane when he needs to, imposing his will on weaker defenders.

He’s also become an impressive offensive rebounder for the New Orleans Pelicans, whether he is grabbing his own miss or slamming home an errant shot from one of his teammates.

Zion is averaging 2.9 offensive rebounds per game, which is good for 15th in the NBA, not bad considering it’s his first season.

Williamson usually uses his power to get put-backs off his own misses, but he is also getting better at flying in from the weak side or down the lane for dunks off his teammates’ missed shots, as he does here:

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If teams don’t get a body on Zion Williamson, he is going to make them pay on the offensive glass.

Give me that!

In the last slide we saw what happened when teams do not get a body on Zion Williamson. He flies in for the dunk and fans of the New Orleans Pelicans do a little dance.

But Zion’s most effective weapon on the offensive glass comes on the plays when he grabs his own misses.

Because of his strength and size, Zion is able to knock defenders back while he is shooting the ball.

If he misses, there is no one there to stop Williamson from simply grabbing his own miss and slamming it home, as he does here against the Timberwolves:

Zion’s ability to rebound his own miss has become quite a weapon for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Once Zion gets deep into the lane, it is almost impossible to stop him, as he is simply too strong and quick on the boards.

He often looks like a kid playing with his younger brother, there is just nothing teams can do to stop him from grabbing the ball and dunking it.

Rising Star Rim Benders

Not all of Zion Williamson’s dunks for the New Orleans Pelicans came in regular season play.

Zion also had his own highlight reel of dunks from the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, where he and fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant stole the show for Team USA.

It would be hard to choose just one from this game, so here are some highlights of some of Zion’s best work.

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The only thing in the arena not impressed with Zion’s performance was the rim, which was left in a sorry state after Zion spent the night trying to rip it off.

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The league has not seen this type of destruction since a young Shaquille O’Neal was ripping down structures for the Orlando Magic.

Zion made his presence felt at the Rising Stars Challenge and the rims will never be the same.

It’s not just Lonzo throwing Oops

The New Orleans Pelicans are fortunate to have two gifted passers in Ball and backcourt mate Jrue Holiday.

Holiday is a former point guard himself, but moved to the shooting guard spot when the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Ball to run the show.

Even though he is playing more off the ball, Holiday is still making plays and racking up dimes, averaging 6.9 assists, which is above his career average.

Zion Williamson is a big reason for that.

Zion makes it easy to get assists because all you have to do is throw it near the hoop and he’ll go up and get it.

If Zion can get behind his defender, as he does here against the Lakers, it’s over if Lonzo or Holiday have the ball.

Zion has already developed chemistry with both Ball and Holiday, which makes the New Orleans Pelicans offense hard to stop.

Holiday can put it on a dime and Zion can go up to get it, as they did here against the Heat.

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Both Holiday and Ball seem to have a sixth sense about when Zion is going to break free and are able to put it where he is going to be, instead of where he is.

When Chaos Happens

The New Orleans Pelicans are always looking to get out and run, which sometimes leaves them susceptible on the defensive glass.

Big teams like the Lakers have been able to take advantage, grabbing offensive boards and racking up points in the paint.

But the Pelicans ability to get out and run is their strength, and they stick with it, even if it means giving up a few offensive boards.

When the New Orleans Pelicans do eventually secure the offensive rebound, as they did here, they know Zion Williamson will be there for the run out:

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Zion closed out on the long-range shooter and then took off and was able to beat two defenders to the other end for a slam.

Defensive rebounding is the final part of playing good defense and the Pelicans don’t always do a great job of finishing the job, but when they do, their pace of play leads to a lot of fast break dunks for Zion Williamson.

“Zion Clears Out!”

The three most exciting words in the NBA are “Zion clears out!”

It’s a warning to the viewer that Zion Williamson is preparing for takeoff and they had better not take their eyes off the TV.

Even if there is a defender in his path, Zion will just bulldoze over him for the dunk, or has a few more agile options, as he uses here against the Oklahoma City Thunder:

The big man can dance and leave defenders looking foolish when they prepare for one of his signature bully moves and don’t get it.

In this final bonus dunk we see the quintessential play for the 2019-20 New Orleans Pelicans, the long pass from Lonzo to Zion that leads to a rim rattling dunk:

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These are just a few of the many dunks Zion Williamson has had for the New Orleans Pelicans and there are sure to be more when the season continues.

Until then, we will continue to provide great coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans. Stay healthy and safe!