You're right, he is not as quick as LeBron, and he can't shoot from the perimeter. We are not going to agree on this, so let's just wait and see how it unfolds next year. He may be great as a pro, but I am skeptical.
Zion compared to Lebron
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You're right, he is not as quick as LeBron, and he can't shoot from the perimeter. We are not going to agree on this, so let's just wait and see how it unfolds next year. He may be great as a pro, but I am skeptical.
I can’t wait for Zion to be picked ahead of Barrett and then 3 years down the road the team that picked first will be ridiculed hard for it. I don’t care how physically gifted Zion is, I’m taking the player with more skill and who is also an elite or close to elite athlete. The one and only thing that might make me pause on Barrett is his selfishness.
At his weight with the high jumping those knees wont stand the strain.
Nothing to be jealous of dook buys the family a house.
Nothing to seee here.
Hope old rat face gets caught for these impermissable benefits.
funny you should mention Dook and buying and millions and Zion in the post, oh I am sorry you were not talking about the million dollar house he and his parents got, just like the Bagleys got when they went to Dook my bad !
Maybe. I would say that John Wall shot under 30% from 3 (.071%!!! Year 2) for his first 3 yrs and averaged 16-19 ppg.
Westbrook is a career 30% shooter from 3 and averages 23ppg.
It’s a myth that every guard and wing is just a knockdown shooter. Explosive athleticism like those guys (and Zion) has always has a chance to contribute.
You routinely bring 2 out of 3. Thanks for the contribution?
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Barkley probably is the best comparison, but a more athletic Randle is still the best I can come up with in today’s game. I don’t know anyone else off the top of my head that plays that way.
I do find it hilarious that Duke fans are so upset about Zion being called a more explosive, more athletic version of a guy who is a borderline NBA All Star right now. I guess watching their guys struggle in the League has really taken its toll, and they desperately need a win.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta weigh 285
Did you see these guys in college? None of them I mean none of them were as bulky as zw even Charles especially as a freshman. So I don’t think you know wth you’re talking about.
I think you’ll get your man. If he doesn’t blow out a knee, Zion will be a 10+ time All Star. I like the young man. I just think he chose poorly.
![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
It was definitely a different game and a different era - Barkley ended up a 26% shooter from 3 point range in the NBA - not a big part of his game. I wonder how his game would develop if he played today.
Shaq and Barkley had about 10 inches less vertical, and LJ was 30 lbs lighter, which adds up over thousands of landings. I think LeBron is your best physical comp, and he still wasn't quite as heavy.
I think (at the same age) it is a good comparison. EXCEPT, Lebron has 2-3" on Zion. That can make a big difference. 2-3" can be the only difference between a great and a good player, or a good and an average player. Zion will be a good pro. But he won't be a great pro because of his lack of height, UNLESS he gets better as a shooter. In the NBA, they are (almost) all great athletes, so the difference between his athleticism and everyone else will be much less.
The other concern with Zion, is will he be able to keep the weight off. If he doesn't, that just puts his knees at greater risk of injury, and lessens his athletic advantage. That was a concern with Barkley, and he not only kept it off, he trimmed down in the pros. But 9 times out of 10, a guy with that (Wt) concern/risk, gets bigger as a pro.
Who does that? My point is 19 year old athletes are not fat. Zion looks like fat “genes”.
I guess? I just can’t have a rational conversation with people who say Zion is “fat”
Could he “slim down/ become more toned ?” Of course ... but “fat” is just absurd
What makes both players so great at Duke on the college level is finishing through contact. Men amongst boys. Double clutch, throw from the hip 5 footers because they are stronger than the other teams big man.
Now ask yourself how many times you see an NBA wing do this? Rarely ever. It's because there are 7 ft centers that are much stronger. If you take these things away from both players what do you have left?!?! Not much with zion. His game is built on power and he's undersized. RJ will be a great player for years to come.
How is Williamson undersized when he's as tall or taller than Barrett, and a much better leaper (and about 80 lbs heavier)? It would be one thing if Barrett was a knockdown shooter, because then you'd be comparing apples and oranges, but that's not the case. You say that because you're projecting Williamson as a 4, but his skill with ball means he's not just stuck at that position. I wouldn't be shocked to see a creative coach trot him out as a behemoth 2 guard.
Hey, I thought Barrett was a better prospect than Williamson, but at some point reality becomes obvious. Some athletes are just a notch above. And in the NBA, you see guys like LeBron, Westbrook, and James Harden (though he does it more through craftiness than athleticism) take on bigs and win all the time.
Tonight sums up the difference pretty well. Zion is 8/8 for 17 points. Barrett is 4/13 for 9, and one of those 4 was a banked in 3.
Zion is a 4. There's absolutely zero chance he can play the 2 in the NBA being that overweight. Sure he's a freak but those other freaks you compared him too are in tip top shape. He has just good enough shot to keep the defender honest.
I try and think about the Jamal Mashburn comparison if Mash were to play in this era. Zion isn't the player Mash was as a soph or junior (stats may say otherwise) and once again a player in the best of physical condition. So the notion that he is a once in a lifetime player is hard for me to get on board with
I try and think about the Jamal Mashburn comparison if Mash were to play in this era. Zion isn't the player Mash was as a soph or junior (stats may say otherwise) and once again a player in the best of physical condition. So the notion that he is a once in a lifetime player is hard for me to get on board with
You're repeating a whole bunch of stuff that was thrown out about Williamson before he showed up and has been completely, utterly dominant. I choose to believe in performance. He'll go #1 overall based on that.
He's shooting almost 75% on 2 point shots. That may be the highest in college history for any player taking at least 10 shots a game.
We easily could have had this same discussion about Anthony Davis in January of 2012. Too skinny, as opposed to fat, but questions about position, questions about the shooting, and so on, and so on. Williamson won't be LeBron, and he might never be as dominant as AD, but he's too gifted not to be very, very good.
Zion as a 2 guard is absurd. Being able to do a crossover and bull past a guy 90 pounds lighter than you in college and being able to handle the ball the way a 2-guard is required to in the pros is a BIG leap.
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2 guard?? no way he guards the likes of james harden, klay thompson on the wing with as much as they move. Cmon man. You must not watch much NBA at all. Zion will be a undersized 4 or possibly a 3 at the next level. With the small ball people are playing now, I'd lean towards the undersized 4.
What position does Giannis Antetokounmpo play?
What position does LeBron really play?
To what extent does it even matter?
Zion Williamson already handles the ball the way a 2 guard is required to in the pros. It's one of the things that sets him apart. Now, he probably doesn't have the playmaking skills to do the type of point forward thing that LeBron and Giannis do, but the main thing is that his skills let him leave the box where you say "oh, he has to be a power forward". No, he doesn't, because he's more than capable of making plays from anywhere on the floor.
You are missing the point. Both those guys you just listed are in top phenomenal shape. Zion will be the second heaviest player in the league behind Bogdan and hes like 7'4. I was saying that Zion couldnt play the 2 because he can't guard the 2. If you honestly think zion could keep up with klay thompson running off screens and constantly moving then I have some beach front property to sell you in idaho.
I have only watched the UK/Duke game and have seen a few highlights of Zion, no other games though. But from what I have seen I just don't think he handles the ball well enough for a 2 guard, especially if you have other guards or 3's guarding him. I feel like he would get his pocket picked or turn it over far more than is acceptable in the NBA.
I could 100% be wrong, but I'll keep that opinion until I see him doing it in the NBA.
Sorry, I do have to disagree with the ball handling thing. Zion is a good ball handler for his size and position, but he is very much a north south ball handler, and his handle, while very good, can still be loose at times.
He'll likely be a 4 in the pros. An undersized 4.
And I cannot believe anyone is really arguing that he is fat
Some folks just let the hate make them delusional. Or maybe they were delusional to begin with? The guy is putting up literally a historical season. At some point you just have to sit back and watch and enjoy it, even if he doesn't play for your team, the way so many non UK fans could enjoy the Brow and JWall.Needs to develop some kind of consistent jumper to be on LeBron's level. Since he's been at Duke I've only seen him hit or attempt one jumper inside the three point line. Yes he is starting to hit a few three's but they are flat footed shots and wide open. No need to hit jumpers in college when you can't be stopped from getting to the rim and making 70% of your attempts though. He will have to develop that jumper in the NBA. To me that is his only weak link.
Now people see why I say Randle is the most underrated player, not only in the Cal era, but maybe the last decade all together. It’s amazing how overlooked he is.
Also, someone wake me up when Zion does what Randle did and carries a team to a title game only to have it robbed out of his hands by the officials.
And Zion at UK would foul out every single game
Zion will have issues in the nba. He’s undersized for his position and there’s no way he can play anywhere but the 4 out of the gate. He can’t hit jumpers, only takes 3’s, and can’t hit those most of the time. His ball handling isn’t that great actually, more north and south he’s limited.
He’s not even close to LBJ. An athletic Randle is what I’ve always said. And no it’s not a given he will even be as good as Randle or take his teams as far.
I’ve said and still say that when Reddish gets to the NBA he might just have a better career than both Barrett and Zion. Barrett will score but won’t amount to much. He’s a black hole guy. Reddish has the body size, the shot, and the all around game that will fit nicely in the league. Bump this post when Reddish is the best pro of the bunch. I think Zion has been over hyped badly because of his athleticism.
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I actually agree with most of this. With the way the NBA is going, more and more teams are going with versatile 4's, who tend to be shorter anyway.Sorry, I do have to disagree with the ball handling thing. Zion is a good ball handler for his size and position, but he is very much a north south ball handler, and his handle, while very good, can still be loose at times.
He'll likely be a 4 in the pros. An undersized 4.
And I cannot believe anyone is really arguing that he is fat
The point is not that I think he'll be a 2, but that his ability to play all over the floor wouldn't make it some totally crazy idea.
I would say his ballhandling skills preclude him being a point forward, ala LeBron, but I think you're overrating the necessary ballhandling skills for the average 2 guard in the NBA.
And yeah, the fat thing gets a little ridiculous. He's mainly just a huge human being. Look at his shoulders and thighs. He almost certainly should drop 10-20 lbs, but he's probably never going to get below 260.
No question in my mind he is skilled enough to play the 3 in the NBA.
His ballhandling plus his speed to size ratio makes it a non issue. He develops his jumper and he will be a load to handle for a decade. If he doesn't he still will be a handful.
His ballhandling plus his speed to size ratio makes it a non issue. He develops his jumper and he will be a load to handle for a decade. If he doesn't he still will be a handful.
That kids mid section is at least 4 inches too big. Yes he's a big guy but it is easy to see when an athlete is too thick in the midsection. Hell his uniform shorts look wider than they are long. Compare his size to Big Baby Davis. Almost identical.
I'm going off what I see. Not what I read. Has nothing to do with Duke or any other school. If he was in Lexington he would still be completely overweight.
Completely overweight.
Just going off what I see, not what I read.
Like... a genuine fatty.
I see it. Identical.
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