Zion Williamson Player Props and DFS Predictions for NBA Debut
2019’s overall No. 1 pick Zion Williamson missed the first 44 games of the season, but the former Duke Blue Devil is set to make his regular-season NBA debut for the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Of course, sports betting sites have Zion Williamson player props ready for NBA bettors as Williamson prepares to take the court in front of the New Orleans crowd.
Spurs vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Line
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Zion Williamson Player Props Wednesday Night
| Prop | Sportsbook |
|---|---|
| O/U 12.5 Points | PointsBet |
| O/U 13.5 Points | FanDuel Sportsbook |
| O/U 5.5 Rebounds | PB & FD |
Williamson averaged 23.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the field during the preseason. The question Wednesday night is not whether Williamson has the ability to score against an NBA caliber defense and dominate the glass against NBA big men; the question is whether Williamson will be given the minutes to go Over his player props.
To have a realistic shot at doing so, the rookie will likely need to play 20 minutes or more Wednesday night. Williamson is projected to be in the Pelicans’ starting lineup, but the expectation is that Williamson will be on a minutes restriction.
It makes sense given Williamson is fresh off a frustrating knee injury that involved an October surgery in repairing a torn meniscus.
Williamson was initially supposed to be out only 6-8 weeks, but Williamson eventually sat out for a total of three months. According to David Griffin, the New Orleans Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, it wasn’t that there were unforeseen complications, but the Pelicans wanted to be overly cautious with their franchise player. Will the Pelicans continue to be overly cautious with their 2019 No. 1 pick or will they give Williamson the green light against the Spurs Wednesday night?
Zion Williamson NBA Debut Predictions
However you feel about Williamson’s playing time will likely determine whether you take the Over or Under on Williamson’s player props and put him in your DFS lineups. Williamson is $5K for DraftKings DFS contests and $4.5K in FanDuel DFS contests. RotoGrinders will have projected ownership for Williamson at both sites later Wednesday.
As for the NBA player props, bettors have more “outs” backing the Under on Williamson’s props. While Williamson was more than impressive in the preseason, he isn’t necessarily a lock to score 14+ points and acquire six or more rebounds even if he sees extended time on the hardwood against the Spurs. And then there’s the most plausible scenario that the Pelicans will play it safe with Williamson in his first game back from the long hiatus.
We’ll most likely see Williamson in short bursts Wednesday night. Maybe he accumulates 15-20 minutes of playing time depending on how things go. Given that forecast, I’m betting Under 13.5 points on Zion’s player props at FanDuel Sportsbook.
If you feel differently, or simply want to root for Williamson to have a successful debut, then be sure to sign up at PointsBet using RotoGrinders’ promo code so you can bet Over 12.5 points instead of 13.5. Additionally, you’ll get two free bets up to $1000 when you sign up with the promo code (see below).
Zion Williamson Rookie of the Year Odds
Despite missing over half of the NBA season, Williamson (+1400) still has the fourth-best odds to win 2020 Rookie of the Year. Williamson started the season as the favorite to win the award, but his odds quickly fell as the timetable for his knee recovery stretched.
Memphis Grizzlies rookie sensation Ja Morant has seemingly ripped away the Rookie of the Year trophy. Averaging 18 points, 7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, it’s no wonder Morant finds himself as the odds-on favorite at US sportsbooks.
Right now the Grizzlies hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It’s tough to imagine a scenario where Morant squanders away the award.
For Williamson to win it, it would likely take an injury to Morant, an absurd second half of the season for Williamson and a Pelicans playoff birth. As good as Williamson might look in his regular-season debut Wednesday night, a late-season ROY push is unlikely given that Williamson will be sitting out back-to-backs in the first month or so of his return.
Long story short, whether Williamson goes for six points or 26 points Wednesday night, don’t bite on his +1400 Rookie of the Year odds.
Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images