WATCH: Physically transformed Zion Williamson pairs up with Jayson Tatum against some fans in China
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson appear to be enjoying their vacation this offseason. The duo was spotted in China playing a pickup game, but it wasn't against each other. Instead, they were playing against fans.
Both Tatum and Williamson showcased some of the skills that make them elite, with both stars getting easy baskets against their non-NBA counterparts. Some snippets of the game were caught on film and later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Here's a short clip of Williamson and Tatum flexing their basketball talents against some of their fans in China.
The New Orleans Pelicans is still waiting for Zion Williamson to take the next step in his development. Not long ago, the 2019 first-overall pick was being touted as a one-of-a-kind superstar, but issues with weight management and staying healthy have held him back.
Last season, Williamson moved forward in the right direction. The work that he's putting towards becoming more fit was visibly taking effect and it resulted in him being able to play most games in a season since being drafted.
That work he's been doing and the transformation he's undergoing has followed him into the offseason. He has reportedly already lost several pounds over the course of the past few months and intends to shed more in preparation for next season.
Playing next to Dejounte Murray could propel Zion Williamson and the Pelicans to deep playoff run
This offseason, the Pelicans theoretically improved their roster by trading for a starting point guard in Dejounte Murray. Acquiring Murray will allow CJ McCollum to go back to playing as a shooting guard.
While the whole team will likely benefit from having a natural point guard in the starting lineup, Zion Williamson has the most to gain. With the team now enjoying much better floor spacing, with McCollum at the two and Brandon Ingram at the three, Williamson is free to do damage inside.
Pelicans fans already caught a glimpse of how lethal Williamson can be with an elite point guard setting him up when Lonzo Ball was his running mate. However, their pairing never lived up to its full potential since Williamson was hurt and Ball was traded to the Chicago Bulls.
With defenses being forced to pay attention to Ingram, McCollum and Murray at the perimeter, the lane becomes wide open for Williamson. Fans could be treated to some sneaky backdoor cuts or aggressive drives to the basket that result in strong finishes.
Of course, Zion Williamson and the rest of the team will need to find their rhythm with Dejounte Murray first. However, once these players get used to working with each other, and if Williamson can remain healthy, the Pelicans could emerge as a legitimate threat in the Western Conference.