New Orleans Pelicans: Steely Dan Songs for Each Player
By Willie Lutz
Zion Williamson – “Bodhisattva” from Countdown to Ecstasy
Representing one of the most exciting, uptempo tunes in the Steely Dan catalog, Zion Williamson fits well with the first track from the band’s second album. Williamson brings man-moving thunder and this song tells the tale of an entity leaving town to avoid the turmoil.
The term “Bodhisattva” also refers to someone who is able to reach some sort of mental peak without causing the harm of others.
While Zion brings nothing but joy to his teammates and shows a lot of signs of self-fulfillment, he does bring a little pain to other teams.
When Zion crashes the lane, people have a tendency to get out of the way, or at least if they know what’s best for their career. This song is played with an energy that will either make someone want to stay out of its way or start dancing almost immediately.
Jaxson Hayes – “Hey Nineteen” from Gaucho
Fitting well as a 19-year-old rookie himself, Jaxson Hayes was a good fit for this essential tune in the Dan catalog. This song tells stories of late teenage hijinx, the first year of college, and celebrating the enjoyment in living out one’s youth.
Hayes certainly gives this New Orleans Pelicans team a youthful burst with his hi-flying action and creativity in explosivity around the rim.
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Providing his team with such a colorful and youthful energy, “Hey Nineteen” is a pretty good anthem for Hayes at this stage of his career, especially as he continues to learn and develop with the Pelicans.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – “Peg” from Aja
The first year of Nickeil Alexander-Walker‘s NBA career didn’t go to plan, at least during the regular season portion. Starting in the Summer League and preseason, Alexander-Walker is due for a much more fulfilling 2020-2021 regular season after he recovers from the fracture in his wrist.
“Peg” tells the story of someone seeing their name in lights, making their “big debut”, and ultimately not being able to adapt to the expanded stage.
While we have high hopes for Nickeil in his second season, the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t get exactly what they were expecting in the first year of the rookie’s career.
Frank Jackson – “Don’t Take Me Alive” from The Royal Scam
Up and down during his two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Frank Jackson can provide his team with quite the spark off the bench on a good night.
While I mostly attributed this song to Frank because his father is a former State Senator in Utah and the tune contains the lyric “I’m a bookkeeper’s son, I don’t want to shoot no one,” it seemed like a good way to give credit to the guard’s hustle on the court.
Also containing the line, “got a case of dynamite,” it makes a lot of sense to give this song to someone who plays with intensity off the bench. When Jackson is hitting his threes, his defensive intensity usually really does provide an explosive weapon for the Pelicans’ second unit.