LAS VEGAS -- The New Orleans Pelicans have the most impressive rookie I've seen so far at the NBA summer league. Oh, and they have No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson too.
While Zion's summer was cut short after less than one half of basketball due to a knee bruise, Monday night saw the long-awaited debut of the Pelicans' other two first-round picks. Because they were acquired via the Anthony Davis trade (and a second trade with the Atlanta Hawks), No. 8 pick Jaxson Hayes and No. 17 pick Nickeil Alexander-Walker were previously unable to play for New Orleans. So too was second-round pick Marcos Louzada Silva.
Before Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls, a member of the Pelicans' front office said the rookies were so excited to play that Alexander-Walker had to be reminded to breathe when he got on the court. They proved to be worth the wait, stealing the show in a blowout 109-72 win over the Bulls. Let's take a closer look at what we saw from New Orleans' other three rookies.