Skip to content

Zion Williamson debut prop bets: Why the best 'over' isn't his point total

Cassy Athena / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Today may as well be called Zion Day.

Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, will make his long-awaited regular-season debut on Wednesday for the New Orleans Pelicans against the San Antonio Spurs. Williamson had been on the shelf since mid-October after tearing his meniscus, but he'll be a full-go against San Antonio.

Considering he's the headliner for Wednesday's 10-game slate, let's dive into some individual prop bets.

Over/under 13.5 points

There's expected to be a flurry of points in this game, as the Pelicans-Spurs total of 237 is the highest on the board for Wednesday. The matchup is what makes the over on Williamson's point total so enticing. San Antonio ranks No. 26 in the NBA in scoring defense and has allowed north of 115 points per game on the road. The Spurs are also in the top half of the league in paint points allowed per game and points allowed to opposing forwards. More specifically, can we really expect Trey Lyles or LaMarcus Aldridge to make life hell for Williamson? Probably not.

All of that is great, but while Williamson is starting on Wednesday, there's a notion that he'll see closer to 15-20 minutes instead of the 30-35 that a starter would usually play. Seeing the court for less than 20 minutes could make it difficult to surpass this total.

Pick: Under 13.5

Over/under 5.5 rebounds

The Spurs aren't a great rebounding team in general, and when you factor in how many possessions and shots there should be in this matchup, the rebound prop looks better than the points. Williamson's activity at both ends of the court will give him lots of opportunities to grab at least six. The Spurs have allowed close to 12 rebounds per game to opposing power forwards and I think this might be the best prop for Williamson to shatter.

Pick: Over 5.5

Over/under 1.5 blocks + steals

If you're thinking there's a block party in store for the rookie's debut, think again. San Antonio has allowed the fewest blocks to opposing power forwards in the entire league. Aldridge, who should spend time matched up with Williamson, has attempted fewer than five shots per game within 10 feet of the basket this season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the veteran avoid any chance to be embarrassed by the rookie. Additionally, the Spurs have allowed the ninth-fewest steals to opposing power forwards. This is another under for me.

Pick: Under 1.5

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox