No. 1 NBA Draft Pick Zion Williamson Cries Big While Thanking His Mom

"She put her dreams aside for mine," the Duke star said after being chosen by the New Orleans Pelicans.
|

Zion Williamson turned Thursday’s NBA Draft into Mother’s Day.

After being chosen first by the New Orleans Pelicans, as expected, the former Duke star got emotional. Cause, well ... Mom.

“My mom sacrificed a lot for me,” a tearful Williamson said in an ESPN interview, below. “I wouldn’t be here without my mom. She did everything for me. I just want to thank her. ... She put her dreams aside for mine.”

Williamson’s mother, Sharonda, who coached him until he was a young teen, also cried as they tried to keep it together with Williamson’s little brother Noah in tow.

Dabbing away tears, she said, “To watch his hard work pay off, to watch this, we’re so happy for him.”

Williamson later said that his “emotions just took over.”

Score one for emotion:

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost