The New Orleans Pelicans have a roster that boasts some incredible basketballing talent, which is why it is no surprise that they have had a strong start to the 2022 NBA season.

Indeed, the team are currently 3-1 through the first four matches of the campaign at the time of writing, having defeated the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Dallas Mavericks, while suffering defeat to the Utah Jazz by a point (122-121) in overtime.

In this article, we will take a look at which players have been the standouts for the Pelicans so far in the 2022 NBA season, highlighting some of their key stats and why they have been so important to the Louisiana-based franchise.

Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and CJ McCollum lead the way

Of course, when the roster consists of players like Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and CJ McCollum, it is hardly a surprise to see that these three individuals are currently leading across a number of the main metrics when it comes down to trying to identify who have been the best players for the organization this season.

As per the stats by ESPN, Ingram and Williamson are currently tied when it comes down to average points scored, with each of them having managed to average 22 points in the three games that they have both played and started in. They both missed the game against the Dallas Mavericks, however with it ending 113-111, the team managed to get by without them – with one player stepping up that we will detail a little later…

McCollum is not too far behind in regard to points scored, as he is averaging 21 points per game, although he has featured in all four games thus far, while Jonas Valanciunas is next on 16. The Lithuanian does, however, lead the team in rebounds, as he averages 11.5 per game, thus making him the most efficient player on the team with a rating of 31.37 which is just ahead of Ingram (31.07). McCollum, though, leads the team in assists with an average of 7.8, whereas Williamson leads in steals (2.0).

Naji Marshall put on an excellent showing against Mavericks

As mentioned, one player stepped up in the absence of Ingram and Williamson in the game against the Mavericks, with Naji Marshall putting on a clinic and showing that he is more than capable of being a backup for the Pelicans this season.

The short forward managed to net 15 points in the 113-111 victory, while he also managed to achieve three rebounds and one assist in his first start of the season for the franchise. The 24-year-old will have been biding his time to get a chance, and while he is yet to have a breakthrough season, there may be some that will be tipping him to do so in the coming weeks if he is able to continue to get a chance to perform on the basketball court.

Indeed, there may be fans in Louisiana that will be hoping one of the former hotly-tipped prospects in his college days will be able to have a breakout season, as they are now able to place bets on the games that involve the Pelicans.

One of the most popular betting markets has been those involving the players. It is no shock that BetMGM Louisiana sportsbook has the best player props available to residents considering placing wagers on their favorite stars.

With props such as points scored, rebounds, or assists obtained, as well as many other individual player stats, Marshall’s recent performance against the Mavs – a team who were in the playoffs last season -, may provide punters with other options that they could consider, rather than perhaps focusing on Ingram, Williamson, or McCollum in future matches that are played.

What can we expect from the Pelicans in their upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns?

Given their fast start to the 2022 NBA season, some may already question how far the New Orleans Pelicans can go and what they could achieve.

Indeed, there is no doubt that Willie Green’s side have been impressive so far, with players performing as well as they need to in order to get wins on the board. It could be claimed that they are unlucky not to be 4-0 given that they were only beaten by one point by the Jazz in overtime.

The team will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday in another tough encounter, with the team from Arizona having been impressive in recent years. They are currently 3-1 for the season at the moment, having won each of their games against Conference rivals, including recently defeating the current NBA Champions the Golden State Warriors 134-105.

The Suns have been Conference and Divisional Champions in the last few years, highlighting the magnitude of the task ahead for the Pelicans. However, they will be confident in their ability, given how well their players have started.

The Louisiana-based organization has shown that they can manage when they do not have their key players available to them, and this is something they can take confidence from.

Final Thoughts

Naturally, many will have been expecting the likes of Ingram, Williamson, and McCollum to perform for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, with each of them having become top players in the NBA throughout their careers.

However, it will have been great news for Green and the franchise to see individuals such as Marshall step up when called upon and put on a top performance when needed most. If the player can finally have his breakthrough campaign, then there might be a lot of excitement and buzz around Louisiana and its basketball scene for the remainder of the current 2022 NBA season.

With many tough challenges ahead, it will be interesting to see if the organization is able to capitalize on its fast start, as this could be something that makes a real difference at the business end of the year.