NEW YORK _ It's official.
Zion Williamson, the most hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James was drafted 16 years ago, became a New Orleans Pelican Thursday night at the Barclays Center when the team took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
The selection, which basically has been a fait accompli since the Pelicans won the draft lottery a month ago, completes a crazy, emotional year under an intense spotlight for the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Duke freshman.
The fact the selection was no surprise doesn't mean Williamson took it in stride. Far from it. When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name, Williamson stood and hugged his mother for a good five seconds. Both were wearing similar white suits and broad smiles.
He then came close to breaking down in an interview with ESPN, describing how his mother, Sharonda Sampson, had supported his dreams of playing basketball when he was young. Sampson, a former track star, coached her son until he was 14 years old.
"I didn't think I'd be in this position, my mom sacrificed a lot for me," Williamson said in the interview where he had to pause to compose himself. "I wouldn't be here without my mom ... She put her dreams aside for mine."
The 18-year-old forward achieved almost rock-star status in his one year at Duke. President Barack Obama made the pilgrimage to see him in Durham, N.C., on the night he injured his knee. James and Rajon Rondo flew to see him play at Virginia. His thunderous dunks became viral sensations as he attracted more than 3 million Instagram followers.
And Knicks fans used dreams of drafting him to get through the worst year in franchise history, regularly chanting his name as they suffered double-digit blowout after double-digit blowout.
The Knicks faithful instead had to settle for Duke teammate RJ Barrett, whom they took with the No. 3 overall pick after the Memphis Grizzlies selected point guard Ja Morant out of Murray State with the second overall pick.
Barrett had the distinction of being the first player in recent memory to be cheered by Knicks fans at the draft after his selection. The 6-7 forward averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists at Duke last season.
He was clearly thrilled by his reception from the Knicks fans.
"How would you feel if people were screaming your name? You'd feel great," Barrett said. "I really feel like I'm doing something good. All my hard work is paying off."
Williamson is seen by almost everyone to be a transformative talent, the type of player that can change the direction of a franchise. He was a dominant force in college basketball last season, despite missing nearly a month after suffering a knee sprain when his shoe broke in a game against North Carolina.
Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for Duke. He also shot 68% from the field and produced many highlight dunks en route to winning the Wooden Award as the nation's top player.
He immediately becomes the most important player for the Pelicans, a team that traded away star big man Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers last week. It's the type of assignment Williamson said he welcomes.
"I think I'm ready to be the face of the team," Williamson said. "I think you have to have that mindset or you're not playing the right sport ... I see myself stepping into a leadership role. I love the game. I love to win. Whatever the team needs me to do, I'm willing to do it."
