Fresh from an exciting playoff run, the Pelicans are approaching the 2022/23 season with great expectations, fueled primarily by the imminent return of Zion Williamson. And while a healthy Williamson will be the driving force behind the jump in New Orleans this season, it is Jonas Valanciunas who could hold the key to unlocking the team’s potential.
In today’s NBA, a starting place consisting of two big blues is not exactly the norm, which makes the connection of Valanciunas and Williamson a little difficult in advance.
Look no further than Valanciunas’ appearance with the Lithuanian national team at EuroBasket 2022 for a hint of an idea while sharing the word with two-time all-star Domantas Sabonis.
I understand that this isn’t exactly the sharpest one-on-one comparison-Williamson is five inches shorter, about 40 pounds heavier, and athletic differences make room for different playing styles. But apart from the measures, there are other numbers that have similarities.
In the last NBA season, two-thirds of Saboni’s strike went to the paint,where he averaged 12.5 points per game, good for 10th place in the NBA.
In each of the last two seasons, Valanciunas’ Paint score was among the best in the league. Since the 2017/18 season, he scored his lowest number of points on average in 2021-22, and yet it was still enough to lead the Pelicans by a mile. This is no coincidence.
While the FIBA game and the NBA game are certainly very different, the way the greats work together in Lithuania gives an idea of how Valanciunas can use his strengths with the Pelicans, while Williamson has the opportunity to dominate.
Distance from the ground
Although he scored the fewest points on average since 2017/18 (a year in which he averaged 12.7 points per game, no less), Valanciunas averaged 17.8 points per game last season, his career best. Related: Valanciunas also tipped a career high of 57 triples at a clip of 36.1%.
(Here’s a reminder that last season Valanciunas was connected at a rate of 51.7% with 23 games of 1.3 triples per game, a peak in the league.)
To be clear, Valanciunas would not play to his strengths by transforming into an expandable five, but his evolution as a capable shooter unlocks rude skills for those with whom he shares the word.
Opposing defenses would prefer a 3-point attempt from Valanciunas’ life than a descent from Williamson, but difficult decisions are made on the evenings when Valanciunas gets hot and the duo shares the word with three of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy or Devonte ‘ Graham.
Sure, the example above is probably a one-off demonstration by Valanciunas, but if he threatens to shoot at least a 3 every night, the Pelicans may have enough room for Williamson to let off steam when he comes down or poses on the block. He will have so many looks:
Big to big
In addition to a career high in scoring games, Valanciunas averaged 2.6 assists in his first season with the Pelicans, a product of his basketball skills and IQ.
At the EuroBasket, Valanciunas delivered five assists in an incredible performance in an overtime defeat against Germany. The gap here is very awkward, but one of the five pennies came to a Sabonis coupé, which hit Dennis Schroder on a much smaller one.
Could you imagine Valanciunas finding a sharp Williamson on the block for a goal? Nine times out of ten it would be a huge traffic jam on the ledge.
Sabonis even returned a valanciunas Cup, which “Point Zion”, who averaged 4.2 assists in the last 17 games of the 2020/21 season, would certainly do just as well.
The dirty work
Although it is important for Valanciuna’s ability to shoot and pass, these two aspects of his game are not exactly what he is known for.
As the season of his career began, Valanciunas gained the reputation of being one of the most body big men in the game. Thanks to his body, the 30-year-old is a doppelganger.
Although he was bodily imposing, Williamson took some parts of the opponent’s defense, which tried to slow him down. A look at Valanciunas might make some defenses think about these body tactics.
The last time Williamson took an NBA floor, he shared the field with a bodily imposing center in Steven Adams. The next time Williamson gets on the ground, he will share a place with an equally imposing, but rudely much more gifted center.
Williamson is not afraid to get his hands dirty on the glass and is excellent at eliminating his own mistakes, but with Valanciunas by his side, the former No. 1 in the ranking does not have to spend unnecessary energy on the boards. It will take a while, but it is clear that Williamson and Valanciunas not only coexist, but use each other’s strengths.
