ESPN's NBA double-header for next Wednesday, January 22nd, was originally scheduled to conclude with a matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets. But that was before the New Orleans Pelicans announced the date of Zion Williamson's highly anticipated NBA debut.
According to The New York Times' Marc Stein, that Nuggets-Rockets game has been swapped out of the national spotlight in favor of Spurs at Pelicans, giving fans across the country an opportunity to watch Zion's first real NBA action. That game, airing on ESPN, will tipoff at 9:30pm ET.
The Pelicans were originally scheduled to play in a franchise-record 30 nationally televised games throughout the 2019-20 NBA season, thanks to their highly touted No. 1 overall pick. This includes Saturday afternoon's home game against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, which will air on ABC at 3:30pm ET.
Zion won't be suiting up for that game, but basketball fans can rest assured that the league will do everything in their power to get the 19-year old phenom on their screens as much as possible moving forward. New Orleans will also host the Boston Celtics on Sunday, January 26 in a game that will air on ESPN at 6pm ET, so plan accordingly.
Now if only the NBA would do something about all of those nationally televised Warriors games.
Zion Williamson’s NBA Debut Date Announced
Pelicans GM says Zion will make his debut on January 22 vs San Antonio.
Earlier this week it was reported that the New Orleans Pelicans were targeting Thursday's home game against the Utah Jazz for Zion Williamson's NBA debut. Pelicans general manager David Griffin shot down those rumors on Wednesday, but the good news is Zion's return to the court isn't far off.
According to Griffin, Williamson will make his NBA debut next Wednesday, January 22nd, when the Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans' next nationally televised game (vs Boston, airing on ESPN) is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, at 6pm ET.
Williamson underwent surgery to repair a torn right lateral meniscus in October and there were some rumblings that he could miss his entire rookie season. However, Griffin told reporters on Wednesday that the option to sit out the 2019-20 season was never under consideration.
The 19-year old powerhouse averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during the preseason. Needless to say, the Pelicans' January 22nd home game against San Antonio will be the most anticipated NBA debut since LeBron James and the Cavs visited the Sacramento Kings in 2003.
The Pelicans are currently sitting in 14th place in the Western Conference with a record of 15-26, but they're just four games back of the eighth seed Memphis Grizzlies.
Zion Williamson Expected To Make NBA Debut This Week: Report
Pelicans reportedly targeting Thursday's game against Utah for Zion's debut.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has reportedly fully recovered from surgery on a torn meniscus and is therefore finally ready to make his long-awaited NBA debut.
According to SiriusXM NBA Radio host Mitch Lawrence, the Pelicans are now targeting Thursday night's home game against the Utah Jazz for Zion's first NBA game. The knee certainly looked well enough during recent pre-game workouts in New Orleans and at Madison Square Garden.
Williamson told reporters at the top of the month that he would have been playing already if it were up to him, and it appears as though the team is finally prepared to give him clearance. The 19-year old phenom, who averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during the preseason, was awarded the AP Player of the Year in a landslide after posting 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game in his freshman season at Duke.
The Pelicans are currently sitting in 14th place in the West with a record of 14-26 but they are just four games behind the eighth seeded Memphis Grizzlies. This week's slate includes a road game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, followed by home games against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
Worth noting, that Clippers game will air on ABC at 3:30pm ET so plan accordingly.
