Frustrating performance! Made only 1 out of 6 three-point attempts in his debut! NBA champion guard teams up with Zion.

Still going for dunks?

After a tough wake-up call, Zion successfully lost weight and is now faster, lighter, and more explosive, most importantly reducing his injury risk effectively.

The Pelicans won their NBA preseason opener this year, defeating Melbourne United 107-97,Zion had a brief but impressive appearance, playing about 16 minutes, shooting 5 for 8, efficiently scoring 15 points with 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.Nowadays, he’s not just a powerful force charging through defenders; he also energizes the team with his passing and plays actively on defense.

The 2022 NBA champion guard and new addition Poole also made his Pelicans debut as the starting point guard. In about 20 minutes, he shot 3 of 9, including 1 of 6 from three-point range, made 4 of 5 free throws, scoring 11 points with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. However, while assisting 4 times, he committed 3 turnovers and had the lowest plus-minus at -3 among the starters.

Notably, the Pelicans made 8 out of 33 three-point attempts as a team, while Melbourne United converted 12 out of 41 from beyond the arc.

To be clear, Poole has never been a great passer; throughout his NBA career, he averages 3.8 assists but also 2.3 turnovers per game. So having him as the primary point guard for the Pelicans might not be the best choice.

During this summer’s offseason, the Pelicans traded CJ McCollum, Olynyk, and a future second-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and the 40th pick in this year’s draft.