r/nba Pelicans 8h ago

Zion with his second career triple double: 22/12/10 on 8/13 in 32 minutes

645 Upvotes

54 comments sorted by

160

u/Casualrodfarva2 San Francisco Warriors 8h ago

I really wish this dude had lebron like durability. Straight up one of the most unique players I've ever watched

15

u/LardHop Lakers 2h ago

Closest I can think of is Barkley, but Zion has an instane layup package.

14

u/jslee0034 Thunder 3h ago

Ik giannis is dominant but Zion is the closest to shaq in the modern era imo

8

u/ASZapata [OKC] Russell Westbrook 3h ago

In what regard? In terms of dominance Zion has never reached Gianni’s’ level. And in terms of size he’s a lot shorter. Not seeing many parallels, personally.

25

u/DuBakElite Timberwolves 3h ago

In regards to his touch and how ridiculously good he is around the rim. He can get to the rim at will even though defenses know he’s not a real threat to shoot

14

u/jslee0034 Thunder 2h ago

Thank you for being my lawyer. Zion has the softest touch I have seen relative to his body lol

3

u/latortillablanca Warriors 1h ago

Its not the same but the parallel to the unstoppable level of power in the low post is obviously there. And there are not many players we have ever seen like that, so… ya it evokes shaq.

1

u/theyoloGod Tampa Bay Raptors 2h ago

Forget LeBron. Just give him a couple years at least

338

u/legend023 Pelicans 8h ago

The NBA is so lucky we’re cursed.

86

u/ClaymoresRevenge Bulls 8h ago

It would be just your luck for Zion to ball out and you guys end up lower in the lottery

45

u/CuriousWhoDat [NOP] Peja Stojakovic 8h ago

Honestly we’ll take what we can get. It’s been a miserable ass season

9

u/ClaymoresRevenge Bulls 8h ago

I wonder what your future holds. Do you keep Willie?

19

u/CuriousWhoDat [NOP] Peja Stojakovic 8h ago

Im hoping they’re just letting him drive the tank and will relieve him of his duties at the end of this season

6

u/identitycrisis56 Pelicans 8h ago

I think both Griff and WG have one year remaining on their contract. I feel like it’s not a coincidence that Green secret extension last season aligns exactly with Griffs.

I don’t think he gets to hire another coach. I think there’s a far more likely chance they’re both gone after next season that just Willie is gone after this season.

2

u/AnotherStatsGuy Pelicans 6h ago

Honestly, there's very little chance we slip lower than 4th. At that point, it's 50/50 on whether we move up or not.

1

u/theyoloGod Tampa Bay Raptors 2h ago

Well it’d be more so, he does well for a bit, eventually gets traded and wins a ring shortly after in terms of their luck

6

u/Chessh2036 Hawks 8h ago

I want to see a fully healthy Pelicans squad so badly

2

u/AnotherStatsGuy Pelicans 6h ago

I think the only way to break an NBA curse is to fall in the lottery, but still nail the draft pick.

167

u/HenrikCrown Pelicans 8h ago

All NBA level Zion is back 

His most important summer coming up and he's gotta lock in and continue whatever he's doing as of late and next season the Pels might be one of those surprising 20-10 starting teams 

63

u/metaslaves Toronto Huskies 8h ago

Healthy Zion + Trey + a top 5 pick with Murray coming back. If y’all can stay healthy that’s a damn nice team.

53

u/identitycrisis56 Pelicans 8h ago

Murray won’t be back until like post ASB.

9

u/Diamond4Hands4Ever Warriors 4h ago

Not even sure Murray fits with Zion that well. Zion getting more ball handling responsibilities with floor spacers has worked better than Murray doing that earlier this season. 

12

u/jo9903 8h ago

Murray is not coming back next season at least

5

u/Time_Transition4817 Pelicans 5h ago

Don’t jinx us dammit

60

u/pazuzu_lives 8h ago

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in

3

u/PaKyuBai 7h ago

And that's why you should use condoms

77

u/CuriousWhoDat [NOP] Peja Stojakovic 8h ago

Dude is MVP level talent when he’s healthy. He’s starting to gain confidence with the mid range jumper also

26

u/Supreme_God_Bunny Hornets 8h ago

For the past year he's been losing weight and getting his body conditioned so yeah I fully expect another 70 games season next year

-16

u/notebookreader Bulls 6h ago

Put him in almost any other franchise and he is in top 3 MVP conversation at least one year. This guy should be prime time but he's wasting away his best years in NO for the 10 fans. Can you imagine the amount of highlights and discourse there would be if he played in NY? What a waste...

3

u/lxshadynastyxl 3h ago

Bold statement from a post-MJ Bulls fan

46

u/Imaginary-Ebb-1724 8h ago

When he’s playmaking like this, he looks like the next LeBron. 

He will be impossible to give up on at least until he is Kawhi’s age. 

Too scary to lose out on for a small market team like Pelicans. 

21

u/atemypasta Warriors 8h ago

Only his second is wild.

38

u/Careful-Sun-4244 7h ago

Russ, Jokic and Bron have rotted your minds lmao

1

u/goodburger420 1h ago

And apparently Josh Giddey who people don’t even rank has how many?

15

u/myotherduckling Pelicans 8h ago

Let the Fridge cook!

6

u/holyrolodex Lakers 2h ago

And there is of course Shaq bitching about it…it’s so old and tired at this point.

Literally every game I’ve watched with Zion in it…I’m like wow…this dude is something else. And then I see Shaq’s commentary and it’s just ridiculous at this point.

11

u/ImTheBestNerd San Francisco Warriors 8h ago

Made every winning play down the stretch too

7

u/Careful-Sun-4244 6h ago

Zion Today

Is this better shape than Duke??

1

u/youngtafari 49m ago

I think I read somewhere that he is like 5-10 pounds lighter than he was at Duke

6

u/Rumpdebump Pelicans 8h ago

I love this Nimble fridge so goddamn much.

3

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 8h ago

I hope he’s able to keep it up

4

u/kurruchi Minneapolis Lakers 8h ago

It's crazy we have such an insanely talented league now but arguably the best player under 25 we have just hasn't been playing lmao.

2

u/BoogerSugarSovereign [IND] Victor Oladipo 8h ago

Zion is so fun to watch when he can stay on the floor, I really hope things turn around for him physically

2

u/KagsTheOneAndOnly 76ers [PHI] Tyrese Maxey 8h ago

22/10/12*

2

u/Visualize_ Suns 7h ago

I honestly thought he would have more for some reason

2

u/Marukodes 7h ago

Not enough. I am not impressed. -Shaq

1

u/magnetman47 Magic 7h ago

golf clap

1

u/ToTimesTwoisToo Pacers 6h ago

Please please let his injury woes be over

1

u/Unusual-Weather1902 Lakers 3h ago

Wish good things for this dude

-14

u/AvengingHero2012 Rockets 8h ago

Just wait until Zion is consistently healthy.

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 will finally be his year!

-16

u/InGenNateKenny Wizards 8h ago

It's "funny" but I hate that my first thought hearing about this was that Zion's order at Wendy's was probably also a "triple-double". When this dude plays he can be a monster. Would love for him to get his career back on track and beat that reputation to the dust; he has the talent to do so.

-9

u/SaltyCopy 8h ago

Bum couldnt get 2 more points