LOS ANGELES — As a first-year guard with the Philadelphia 76ers a decade ago, Jrue Holiday was just hoping for playing time. But he can still remember the excitement he felt before his first games against luminaries like Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, whom Holiday found especially imposing in real life.

“That was kind of scary,” he said. “Not even going to lie.”

Holiday now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, who employ a first-year forward named Zion Williamson. But while Williamson acknowledged that it was neat to go up against stars like LeBron James for the first time — “a dude you’ve been watching on TV for a long time,” Williamson said — the calculus is different for him. He is already one of the scary ones.

Thirteen games into his N.B.A. career, Williamson has done his part to meet the outrageous expectations that have trailed him since the Pelicans made him the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. His dunks register on seismographs. He has shown himself to be a surprisingly deft passer. And he has helped put the Pelicans in the playoff picture.

“A lot of times with really talented players at that age, you’re going to see flashes of brilliance,” the Pelicans’ J.J. Redick said. “But he’s brought a level of brilliance and intensity every night that he’s played so far. The consistency has been remarkable.”