Kendrick Perkins believes Zion Williamson belongs in NBA MVP conversation: "He has a chip on his shoulder right now"

Zion Williamson has certainly been making a lot of noise with the New Orleans Pelicans this season. With Kendrick Perkins taking note of this, the former NBA champion expressed that Williamson deserved a place in the MVP discussion.

MVP discussions this season have seen several players emerge as contenders. While last season was an all-out battle between big men, this year has seen several appear as potential contenders.

With Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the fray, Zion Williamson has also made a solid case for his name to be mentioned.

Playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, Williamson has helped the team rise to the top of the Western Conference. With their recent surge featuring two back-to-back wins against the Phoenix Suns, Williamson has definitely made New Orleans a force to be reckoned with.

In light of his recent performances, Zion has definitely garnered attention for his status as a superstar and a leader. But does he belong in the MVP discussion?

When asked whether Zion deserves a mention in the MVP conversation on "Get Up," former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins responded:

"If he's not in the MVP conversation, who else is. When we talk about the MVP's, I know the goal-post, we move it so much. But let's just keep it right here. He's impacting winning along with putting up MVP numbers with people being out, especially Brandon Ingram.

"He has been more than available. He has been more than reliable. He has been everything. And you know what's crazy? He has a chip on his shoulder right now. This team is very dangerous and this team could possibly come out of the Western Conference because the West is wide open."

Perkins took his praise for Williamson a step further when he said:

"This Pelicans team led by Zion Williamson has a great shot at representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this season."

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ESPN analyst Zach Lowe also voiced his agreement with Kendrick Perkins' comments. While highlighting the depth of the team and their performances as of late, Lowe mentioned the impact Zion had on the team and the Pelicans' system.

Williamson has done a great job of establishing himself as the leader for the Pelicans. By adapting to his role, the young superstar has also managed to cultivate an identity that could see the team as a potential title contender as well.

Read: Shaquille O'Neal praises Zion Williamson's breakout season: "He's probably a little bit more explosive than I was"

Zion Williamson has turned the New Orleans Pelicans into title contenders

Zion Williamson may have missed a significant amount of time due to injury in his young career. However, the New Orleans Pelicans have certainly felt his presence this season. With Williamson on the floor, Perkins was right in saying that the Pelicans were one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.

Even with Brandon Ingram out of the lineup due to injury, New Orleans has enough firepower and depth to be considered a playoff contender. But Zion is the x-factor that makes them a title contender.

Last season, the Pelicans made a miraculous surge in the second half of the regular season which saw them earn a spot in the play-in tournament. Although Williamson was available, New Orleans opted to be patient with his return.

With Zion out, the Pelicans still threatened the title-contending Phoenix Suns in the first round. Although New Orleans fell in seven games, there was enough evidence to support the claim that this was a team on the rise.

Zion's return has seen the Pelicans improve exponentially. With the best record in the West without Ingram on the court, New Orleans is undoubtedly a title-contender at this stage.

Read: Zion Williamson on Pelicans leading the West: “For us to have that ranking right now, it’s big”