“Zion is a force to be reckoned with…they can win the West this year”- NBA Analyst makes bold claim after Zion Williamson leads New Orleans Pelicans to dominant win over Brooklyn Nets

Zion Williamson's remarkable performance in the New Orleans Pelicans' 130-108 win at the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday impressed analyst Skip Bayless. He called the Pels a serious contender to win the Western Conference.

In their opening game, New Orleans put on a statement performance, with Williamson having 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. The Nets looked clueless on how to defend Williamson. Ben Simmons, who is known to be one of the league's best defenders, could not hang with him.

After such a dominant victory, Bayless was ready to annoit Williamson and the Pelicans:

"Zion Williamson is a force to be reckoned with. ... If you add and blend him to this mix, I'm here to say they can win the West this year."

New Orleans Pelicans are a contender in a stacked Western Conference

The New Orleans Pelicans made the first round of the playoffs last season and took the mighty Phoenix Suns to six games without their young superstar.

Brandon Ingram had a breakthrough playoff series, and veteran C.J. McCollum looked right at home in high pressure situations as the primary ballhandler.

Willie Green, one of the best young coaches in the league, will now have to integrate Zion Williamson into the lineup without hampering his other stars.

With the Western Conference more stacked than ever, it will take a lot for the Pelicans to challenge for the championship this season.

The LA Clippers will be right back in the title mix with the return of their All-Star duo of Paul George and two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers have a deep roster capable of competing for the championship.

Similarly, the Denver Nuggets have gotten back Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. If the duo can stay healthy, the Nuggets, led by back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic, could be a solid contender.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves look to be on a similar trajectory to New Orleans. With Anthony Edwards developing into a superstar and Rudy Gobert adding a much-needed defensive presence, the Timberwolves could make some noise as well.

Finally, the teams that made the Western Conference finals last season, the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks, are still strong.

The Warriors, the defending NBA champions, look even more lethal as their young stars continue to grow. That development can enable their veteran stars to carefully manage their load in the regular season.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, will look to integrate Tim Hardaway Jr. alongside summer additions Christian Wood and Javale McGee.