Pelicans star Zion Williamson embraces major throwback with RJ Barrett after 2019 ACC title win
Before Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett were making waves in the NBA, the two were competing alongside one another at Duke. Now, five years removed from their ACC title win in 2019, the two were featured in an Instagram carousel showing off the Duke alumni brotherhood, featuring some of the biggest names in basketball.
On Friday, Williamson shared the image to his Instagram story, tagging both Duke and RJ Barrett in the post. RJ Barrett then reposted the photo of the two, along with Williamson's story post.
Check out the post below:
The carousel started with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg at training camp for Team USA this summer in preparation for the Olympics. Alongside the two, we can see Team USA managing director Grant Hill as well.
Players like Paolo Banchero, Justise Winslow, and Quinn Cook are also featured. Following that, we see a photo of Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett celebrating their 2019 ACC title win together. In the photo, Barrett can be seen giving Williamson a hug over the shoulder as the two proudly watch the celebration unfold.
Looking back at Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett's time together at Duke
During their time together at Duke, Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett established themselves as one of the best young dynamic duos in the NCAA. In their freshman year, the pair became the first freshman duo to both average 20+ points per game, with both Williamson and Barrett averaging 22.6ppg.
In addition to their individual success throughout their one year together at Duke, the pair led Duke to an ACC Championship win, as well as an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA March Madness tournament.
Before entering the NBA, the two then wound up becoming the first freshman duo to earn All-American first-team honors together, further cementing their status as one of the greatest NCAA duos of all time.
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the two were then both selected in the top three, with Williamson going first, and Barrett going third after Memphis selected Ja Morant with the second pick.
While the two haven't had a chance to compete alongside one another since their time in college, their one season together remains one of the most impressive by two freshmen in the history of Duke basketball.
This year, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans will play RJ Barrett and the Raptors on two separate occasions during the NBA's regular season. The pair will first meet on Nov. 27 in New Orleans, before closing out their season series on Jan. 27 against the Toronto Raptors.