What Zion Williamson was hysterically laughing about before the Grizzlies game

It takes a lot to push through the professional masks that athletes wear during a game. However, a shout out after the pre-game warm-up would stick with New Orleans Pelicans Zaon Williamson until long after the final buzzer. Just a few seconds before the confrontation I Morant’s trash-talking Memphis Grizzliesthe night belonged to a simple, good-natured moment.

As he walked off the field, the 25-year-old All-Star forward made his way through the tunnel, signing memorabilia. Then it happened. A wide, sincere smile gave it all away. Williamson heard it; the mask is removed for a second. The Duke alum known for some seriously earth-shattering dunks started running into the locker room as the apparent clamor around the eight-year-old accomplished something few in the world would attempt: They stopped the 6-foot-6 phenom in his tracks.

“Lord Zion!”

Williamson couldn’t hold back his laughter. A joke about it from ClutchPoints got another chuckle.

“Man, ‘Mr. Zion,'” Williamson mumbled, “I’m still only 25 years old.

Post-match commentary and reaction highlight Williamson’s current unique position. Zion’s anything was always a 1-on-1 situation. The former No. 1 overall pick, the Spartanburg, SC native has been a household name for more than half a decade. Williamson is a true veteran in the eyes of the basketball world. Still, at just 25 years old, Big Z is also just a youngster still in his prime.

Zion Williamson is over waiting

The opposition to the actual game was impressive. A pregame moment that felt like a neighborhood interaction and a play that showcased both Williamson’s all-world talent and the Pelicans’ vulnerability. Williamson’s laugh in the tunnel underscored how much public speaking remains for a player who has spent much of his career oscillating between highlight reels and injury lists. After all, he is “only 25 years old,” at the beginning of the arc of what the basketball world hopes will be a long, dominant peak.

That make-or-break story has followed Williamson for years. Between weight fluctuations, off-field drama and injuries, availability questions abound. Joe Dumars came in with an alleged accountability-based tenure, and the lack of social media that has been highlighted by the offseason has only heightened the scrutiny. At media day, Williamson and Dumars discussed taking on significant responsibilities. A thinner, more consistent presence in training camp was well documented early in this opener.

Still, for fans who get those moments in the arena an hour before tip-off, sometimes the player behind the headlines emerges. “Mr. Zion,” exclaimed one spectator, did more than laugh; he broke the distance between celebrity and beat person. For a city that lives and breathes its basketball, those shots are as important as boxing at this point.

However, on the field, the Pelicans will take a lesson from the closing minutes. As talented and emotionally driven as Williamson is, basketball is all about runs, turnovers and late possession. As New Orleans looks to bounce back from a season-opening loss, Williamson’s ability to maintain a sense of humor could prove just as valuable as his athleticism. After all, staying grounded when the fans treat you like basketball royalty takes a certain self-awareness.

The Pelicans take on the San Antonio Spurs in their home opener Friday night at the Smoothie King Center. Hometown fans may not address their star as “Mr. Zion,” given the connection. If they do, the All-Stars will appreciate the humor.