
His progress will hopefully mirror players such as Draymond Green and Blake Griffin, both of whom were unreliable shooters when they entered the league and have emerged as legitimate perimeter threats. Some critics focus on his lack of shooting range as his biggest hindrance, but he hit big long-range shots at Duke and compiled a diverse and efficient shot chart in his lone collegiate season. Given the praise he’s earned for his effort and attention to detail from several former teammates and coaches, it’s fair to assume that he can be one of the league’s best defenders within his first few seasons. Even in a league that features high-flyers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Williamson should be one of the game’s best finishers when he finds open routes to the bucket.ĭefensively, he’s physically equipped to lock down some of the league’s most versatile players. Williamson is ready to be one of the league’s most explosive players, but he’ll single handedly freeze opposing defenses if he can reliably hit outside jump shots and improve his passing. He harnesses his physical gifts into dominance on both sides of the floor. As with any rookie, Williamson is raw but his explosiveness and fluidity make him more advanced than the standard “pure athlete”. While he’s undersized for an interior forward or center, opposing forwards and centers will struggle to block out or overpower a strong player with elite body control. Williamson’s deft footwork makes him dangerous on spin moves and hook shots near the rim. The focus on his physical abilities may overshadow his technical skills though. If he finds open space, he’s a safe bet to get close to the rim for a high-percentage shot. His burst makes him unstoppable in fast-break settings. He overwhelmed opponents in college by maneuvering his 280lbs frame to box out defenders and leaping over them at the rim for contested balls. Why is he drawing comparisons to LeBron James?Ĭomparing anyone to James, the greatest player of his era, is unfair but the chatter about Williamson’s generational athleticism is legitimate.

After enrolling at Duke for one season, he averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game – throwing down more huge dunks – and was the consensus top player in last year’s draft class. Williamson’s monstrous dunks became viral while he was still in high school and helped transform him into one of the most touted college prospects of all time. The No1 overall draft pick is listed at 6ft 6in and 284lbs with a 6ft 10in wingspan and 45 inch vertical leap – nearly two-thirds higher than the average vertical for an NBA player.

#Zion williamson wingspan professional#
The 19-year-old rookie is considered by many to be the best professional basketball prospect since LeBron James.
