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Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:27 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:31 pm
by Iwasawitness

Watch on YouTube
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Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:31 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:32 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:33 pm
by GSWFan1994
Iwasawitness wrote:"He's fat!"


The huge echo always gets me... :lol:

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:33 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:39 pm
by Bornstellar
I wouldn't call him a bust but he has been disappointing relative to the hype.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:41 pm
by Pelon chingon
I never believed he was the generational talent his hype made him out to be. Good player but not special.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:42 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:06 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:10 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:10 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:11 pm
by 1993Playoffs
Nope.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:13 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:27 pm
by 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

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:33 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:33 pm
by WarriorGM
Mogspan wrote: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?

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:41 pm
by tsherkin
WarriorGM wrote: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...

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:42 pm
by 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.

Re: Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:43 pm
by 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!!