Zion Williamson has undoubtedly been the standout player for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. However, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons believes that Trey Murphy III should be selected for Team USA ahead of his All-Star teammate.
Williamson has been a top prospect since his days at Duke, and was drafted first overall by the Pelicans in 2019. However, injuries and off-court issues have limited his playing time in the NBA.
In the 70 games he did play this season, Williamson averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His impressive performance helped the Pelicans secure a playoff spot via the Play-In Tournament.
However, Williamson suffered a hamstring injury in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, causing him to miss the final Play-In game and the subsequent first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite Williamson’s exceptional talent, Simmons argues that Murphy III offers Team USA more upside and a better fit. In a video posted by Pelicans Film Room on Twitter, Simmons stated that Murphy is his “favorite non-Superstar in either conference” and that he should be given the 12th spot on Team USA.
Over the course of 57 games this season, including 23 starts, Murphy averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. His combination of size, athleticism, and shooting ability allows him to contribute on both ends of the court.
With Team USA boasting an abundance of scorers like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, adding Murphy to the roster would provide the team with much-needed versatility and defensive flexibility without sacrificing offensive firepower.
This article was originally published on Hardwood Heroics and syndicated with permission.
