Fox News Flash top headlines for June 20 are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com
The New Orleans Pelicans drafted forward Zion Williamson with the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft Thursday, anointing him as the new face of the franchise to replace the departing Anthony Davis.
Williamson, who averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 68 percent from the field in his one season at Duke, has been the consensus No. 1 choice for months, making the Pelicans' draft decision the easiest since the Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James with the first pick back in 2003.
"I mean, I don't know what to what say," an emotional Williamson told ESPN after his name was called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. "I didn't think I'd be in this position. My mom sacrificed a lot for me. I wouldn't be here without my mom. She did everything for me."
NBA DRAFT 2019: TOP PROSPECTS TO KNOW
The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson will have more of a burden placed on him after the Pelicans agreed over the weekend to trade Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for point guard Lonzo Ball, forward Brandon Ingram, shooting guard Josh Hart and three first-round draft choices.
When asked if he had a message for his new fanbase in New Orleans, Williamson's response was brief: "Let's dance."
The Memphis Grizzlies, fresh off trading veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz, drafted Murray State's Ja Morant as Conley's heir apparent with the No. 2 pick. The New York Knicks drafted forward RJ Barrett, Williamson's Duke teammate, with the third overall pick to huge cheers from the New York crowd.
Click Here: Sports Water Bottle Accessories
Pelicans General Manager David Griffin did some more dealing before the draft, flipping the No. 4 pick New Orleans acquired from the Lakers to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 8, No. 17 and No. 35 overall picks, along with a protected first-round pick from Cleveland in 2020 that Atlanta had. In addition to the No. 4 pick, the Hawks will receive the No. 57 overall pick, a future second-round pick and forward Solomon Hill from New Orleans.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Neither the Davis trade nor the trade with the Hawks can be finalized until July 6 — coincidentally, Williamson's 19th birthday — when the moratorium marking the start of the new NBA year comes to an end.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story; check back for more updates.