If actions could speak, the New Orleans Pelicans told Zion Williamson: You can have "let's dance."

The team withdrew its pending trademark requests for the phrase that began trending once the No. 1 pick smiled and said them onstage at the NBA draft moments after his name was called.

While the Pelicans requesting a trademark on a marketable phrase is not unusual, the filing butted heads — most likely by accident — with three similar requests by Williamson.

The update was first reported by trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who posted a video explaining the odd standoff between the team and player. Because the Pelicans' request was filed first, theirs would've been given precedence.

Who gets 'let's dance' trademark? Zion Williamson, Pelicans file competing requests day after draft Someone will almost certainly profit off of Zion Williamson's surprise draft night catchphrase — but he'll have to compete with his new NBA te…

Gerben, the founder of a Washington-based law firm under his name, said at the time he anticipated the issue was likely a misunderstanding. Less than a month later the team filed an "express abandonment" of its requests.

“This leaves those two applications as dead and ... presumably they are doing this to clear the way for Zion Williamson to own the phrase himself,” Gerbin said.

But Williamson's pursuit of the branding didn't end there.

In addition to his trio of requests filed the day after the NBA draft, he added 10 more that include items like bed linens, glassware, children's books, jewelry, non-alcoholic beverages, key chains and various other items. His initial requests covered such items as toys, clothing and athletic wear, bags and luggage, and computer games and mobile applications.

The day after the NBA Draft, Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans BOTH filed trademarks for LET'S DANCE.



Two days ago, the Pelicans withdrew their applications.



Zion has since filed 10 additional trademarks for the phrase.#letsdance#zionwilliamson



My analysis 👇: pic.twitter.com/6gE4ZjOmDZ — Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) July 18, 2019

Of his 13 requests, Williamson is "breaking them up into different categories that he may intend to offer under this phrase," Gerben said.

Whether a marketing campaign ever comes to pass, Williamson did offer insight into the phrase that seemed to mean something when he said it — but no one in New Orleans could interpret.

A day after the draft in his introductory press conference, Williamson was asked directly what it meant. The former Duke star chuckled before launching into the explanation. The 19-year-old said he and a friend were watching "Avengers: Endgame" and he was cheering on Thanos, the villian, in his attempt to achieve his bad-guy goals.

*spoilers*

"Captain America's shield is broken and I'm like 'We're about to win,'" Williamson said.

"For once, the movie's gonna be realistic and the bad guy wins," Williamson recalled thinking to himself. "Then my friend says 'Hold on. Hold up,' and all of a sudden all of these superheroes ... start appearing.

"I'm like 'Oh, we might lose.' He looks at me and says 'Let's dance.'"

Can't see video below? Click here.

Williamson flashed a toothy grin and drew laughs from reporters on hand, a common sight in his whirlwind 24 hours in the NBA.

The buzz around the hyper-athletic forward has calmed slightly in the past few weeks, as his highly anticipated debut at the Las Vegas Summer League was cut short by a knee-to-knee collision, and then the game itself was called early because of an earthquake.

The Pelicans then decided to shut Williamson down for the rest of the event. New Orleans' squad was then taken over by fellow rookies Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos "Didi" Louzada Silva. The trio took turns putting out highlight plays and generating their own buzz before their run ended in the playoff semifinals.

However the young group meshes as the 2019-20 season ticks closer, one word of advice: If you spot a "let's dance" coffee mug, soft drink or bedsheet -- make sure it's official.