Zion Williamson

Duke | Forward | Freshman

An athletic marvel with a body crafted by the basketball gods.

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 285 lbs
Wingspan: 6'10"


Mock Draft Position: #1 to the New York Knicks
Big Board Ranking: #1

Selling Points:

Physicals - Possesses a rare and incredible blend of strength and leaping ability... Jaw dropping athlete, has an incredible vertical leap which allows him to consistently convert on highflying plays that others couldn't even try to attempt... Sturdy and strong build, isn't bothered by contact, able to throw defenders of him when inside... Speedy and agile for a player of his strength and size, runs with great fluidity and coordination... Amazing body control and balance at high speeds... Intimidating physical presence.

Inside Finishing - Hyper-efficient inside scorer (74.7% from two). Uses his monstrous frame to bully his way to the rim ... Has great body control and is able to either contort his way around the defender for the acrobatic lay-in or simply go straight over the top for the hard finish... Creates an enourmous amount of space using hopsteps, changes direction with ease... Can catch lobs at heights others can't dream to reach... Hard to stop in transition (83.6% in transition), threat as both a ball-handler and a running mate... Smart off-the-ball player, gets into positions to receive the ball with ease... Likes holding post position between his defender and the rim and catching lobs... Has a powerful spin move off the dribble and forces his way inside... Isn't bothered by contact (6.2 fta), stays aggressive with a high motor.

Defensive Potential - Dangerous shot blocker with great timing and airtime from the weak side, plays volleyball with the opposing team's shot attempts (1.8 bpg)... Covers ground quickly, able to reject floaters and perimeter shots... Shuts down second-chance opportunities from behind...Pins shots on the backboard regardless of the situation... Can block speedy guards in transition without fouling, recovers incredibly well... Quick off the bounce. Plays physical and interrupts post feeds, jumps passing lanes to create fastbreak opportunities (2.1 spg)... Fundamental post defender, stays vertical, doesn't get baited into fouling under the rim (2.1 fpg). Solid speed laterally when locked in, intimidating presence due to size and leaping ability... Potential multi-positional defender due to agility and strength.

Rebounding - Physical contender on the boards with great timing (10.7 rpg per 36)... Gets great elevation and is able to control airspace by ripping rebounds out of the air well above opponents... Boxes out effectively and holds his ground against larger opponents (5.4 def-rpg)... Offensive putback threat (3.5 off-rpg), possesses a high motor and a quick second jump.

Growing Versatility - Has shown flashes of his playmaking potential... Unselfish, keeps the ball moving... Has a knack for bounce passes and pushing the ball in transition... Great passer out of the post, plays with his eyes up and swings the ball to open jump shooters... Above-average handle for a forward... has a powerful crossover that could become deadly in transition.

Marketability - Humble and likeable personality... Already a household name before even stepping foot on an NBA court... Produces highlight reels and mixtapes on a nightly basis, would be a fan favourite and ticket-seller from day one.


Turnoffs (& Potential to Improve):

Shooting - Isn't much of a natural shooter, looks like he's slinging in rather than shooting it... For now, he is limited to standstill catch-and-shoot looks as far as the three-ball goes... Has an odd habit of jab stepping before shooting... Poor free throw mechanics, shoots the ball very flat and inconsistently (64% on 6.2 fta)... There is potential for Zion to improve in this department... Appears to shoot the ball with better efficiency and more naturally when under pressure by the defense (40.7% on guarded catch-and-shoot shots/25.8% on unguarded catch-and-shoot shots)... Has shown glimpses of an off-the-dribble game from the midrange... Started off the season with some horrid misses from deep although his form and wrist action has become cleaner as the season has grown older (28.6% in first 15 games, 41.2% in last 15 games).

Defensive Discipline - Isn't overly impressive defending the pick-and-roll, tends to fall asleep when the screener pops. Focuses on playing help defense to often, loses track of man on the perimeter... Relies on attempting to swat shots in recovery rather than staying in front of his guy... Jumpy defender on the perimeter... Streaky defender, looks intense and locked in some times and too tired to contest attempts other times... Has a bad habit of overhelping and reaching, will get punished at the next level for this.

Predictability on Offense - Overuses hopsteps and dropsteps... Lacks polish from the post, relies on overpowering smaller defenders...Plays recklessly at times, drives into traffic expecting foul calls... Needs to improve ability to decelerate to avoid picking up offensive fouls against smarter defenders... Doesn't have a reliable right hand unless that hand involves a tomahawk slam.

Concern about Build - Undersized for a power forward at 6'7" with a 6'10" wingspan... Due to the weight he carries at 6'7", the potential for injury and premature wear-and-tear on his lower body will always be a risk in Zion's career, especially with his run-and-jump playstyle... His incredible strength and ability to change direction will be something to look out for especially following the freak accident in the UNC game that led to him spraining his knee... Keeping in shape and managing his weight will be a focus of his career.