Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

[Mogspan]

His absolute floor was supposed to be Blake Griffin, and now it’s looking like that’s a level he’ll never reach.

Can an All-Star be a “bust” if the expectations for them were much higher? Andrew “Maple Jordan” Wiggins, who’s had one season as an above-average starter, is unequivocally a bust IMO.

[Iwasawitness]

Watch on YouTube

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[Sign5]

Disappointment sure, bust? Not even close. He was an early mvp candidate carrying the pels whilst ingram was injured a couple years ago (before he himself ultimately got injured as well). Lakers play in game was another glimpse of his capabilities.

Think he's just off to a slow start as are a lot of other stars. Also don't think he and Ingram are a good fit, they need to trade him and get a capable center, was silly to let Val go without a formidable replacement.

[GSWFan1994]

Funnily enough, I was just thinking about creating a similar thread, as I watched Zion last night due to him facing the Warriors.

Not a bust though, but certainly a disappointment. Similar to Anthony Davis coming out of college, I expected a way better career, a true all-timer trajectory so far indeed.

[GSWFan1994]

"He's fat!"

The huge echo always gets me...

[UcanUwill]

If you consider good, but hugely disappointing players - busts, then yes. When NO won that lottery, it really felt like they won something huge. But in reality, they didn't really win much of anything with Zion around.

[Bornstellar]

I wouldn't call him a bust but he has been disappointing relative to the hype.

[Pelon chingon]

I never believed he was the generational talent his hype made him out to be. Good player but not special.

[tsherkin]

His health leaves him disappointing, but he's a 2-time AS who has been averaging about 25/6/4 going into this season. Pair of seasons at 26+ ppg, too, albeit one at 29 GP.

Hard to look at him as a "bust" with that in mind. The performance is there... when he's on the court.

[Kingdibs19]

He was the most hyped player since Lebron. Saw some people saying he was even a better prospect. So no he has not lived up to that hype.

[zero rings]

Yes I think it’s fair. He’s still a good player, but with his talent he should be a top 5 player at worst. His lack of hustle since being drafted is shocking.

[CBS7]

You don't have to be terrible to be a bust, but you have to come well short of expectations/hype. I think its fair to call him a bust.

For example - Bogut had a long NBA career, won a ring, all defensive, etc. But he's still a bust since he was drafted #1 overall.
Zion is a more extreme case. 2 time allstar already but he was way more hyped than Bogut.

[1993Playoffs]

Nope.

[bkkrh]

Definitely not a bust. He made 2 All Star teams already in his first 6 years and has currently a career average of 24.5 points. That's extremely good, even for a 1st pick.

The issue with him is staying healthy and that he was completely overhyped. Experts were acting like whoever drafts him will be a dynasty for the next 15 years and that it's a waste of his talent and star power to play in a market like New Orleans. That's just unrealistic expectations and was pretty much the same situation I worried about with Wemby.

It will mostly come down to him being able to stay healthy. If he continues like last season and is able to play around 70 games each year with a similar productivity he's definitely not a bust. Don't care so much about his early season performance this year it's basically 1 great game vs 3 bad ones scoring wise. At least he gets a lot more rebounds and blocks.

[tundraknight]

Not a bust.

But I never bought into the hype of Zion being a “Lebron level prospect” that some people here were claiming.

In terms of draft prospect tier list, Blake Griffin seems like much more accurate comparison. If they were in the same draft class it would be an interesting debate to see who goes #1

[Beethoven]

Is he a bust compared to Lebron James?
Yes


Is he a bust compared to the likes of Blake griffin?

Yes.



Is he a bust compare to the likes of the Candyman Olowokandi?


No definitely not.

So scientifically we have empirically converged to a more accurate answer and will continue to do so as science advances into the 21st century.

[WarriorGM]

His absolute floor was supposed to be Blake Griffin, and now it’s looking like that’s a level he’ll never reach.

Can an All-Star be a “bust” if the expectations for them were much higher? Andrew “Maple Jordan” Wiggins, who’s had one season as an above-average starter, is unequivocally a bust IMO.

Who in Wiggins' draft class has had a much better career? Embiid who was chosen as MVP but hasn't gotten out of the second round yet?

[tsherkin]

Who in Wiggins' draft class has had a much better career? Embiid who was chosen as MVP but hasn't gotten out of the second round yet?

YOu'd have to be trolling to suggest Embiid hasn't clearly enjoyed a dramatically superior career to Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins sucked in Minnesota. He was a no-creation, low-efficiency gunner. He retasked himself as a spot-up 3pt shooter who could defend some on the wing for the Warriors and that worked out in 22 despite his low-efficiency scoring. But he's a massive bust for his draft slot, unquestionably.

Aaron Gordon, former DPOY Marcus Smart, Zach Lavine and Clint Capela have all had better careers in terms of performance than Wiggins.

As has 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic...

[Bolivar]

I'm sure he can collect meaningless regular season stats just like anyone else, but he was supposed to be a physically spectacular player but never was after college. And I don't think he's going to be actually contending for a ring.
Is that a "bust": well, no.

[Lalouie]

no.. because he's too damned good when/if he plays.

when he's injured too bad for the pels, but who ever said you have to play a "complete" season to not be a bust!!