Is it fair to call Zion a “bust”?

[beeshma]

Michael Olowakandi was a bust.
Zion cannot be considered a bust. Maybe he'll be like Vince Carter, someone explosive who regresses to above average.

[Sign5]

34 10 and 6 in the win. Not bad for a bust. Just like some were premature to say Wemby isn't it due his off night 6pt performance, he then proceeds to record a rare 5x5 game and silence the pundits and detractors.

Tonight, Zion himself records a dominant all around game on 70% shooting to boot.

You can call him a dissapointment but a bust is just idiotic. The dude's career numbers are 25/7/5.

Why "NBA fans" are so quick to dismiss these next crop of stars is beyond me. Who exactly do you expect to entertain you once Lebron, Curry and KD have all retired?

Anthony Bennett, Darko, Fultz, Olowakandi those are all busts. Not a guy who who's been a 2 time all star in 5 years (and injuries being the only reason it wasn't at least 2 more).

[One_and_Done]

Zion isn't a bust, but clearly he's a disappointment given the hype and expectations.

[Funcrusher]

Gonna go out on a limb and say no, no he is not a bust.

As someone who follows the pels closely, my expectations for him haven't changed. He will be an all time great barring injury, he's had an unsual and unfortunate start to his career (some of that his fault tbf) but he's 24 and we're 6 games into the season. And he's been productive when he's on the court to boot.

Fans, somewhat understandably so, have no patience, but sometimes these things take time, and im confident the narrative on him will radically change this season, again, permitting health.

[Gusto1903]

Given the Hype?
Definitely

[meekrab]

The #1 picks before Zion were Simmons Fultz and Ayton... he's way better than those three so if he's a bust there's a ton of busts out there.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

He's had some huge statistical years, I can see him having a Blake Griffin like career, I can see him being considered higher if he teams up with someone really good somehow or goes to the right team/org and then win some chips. Winning chips always helps.

Blake griffin had 7 to 9 seasons of 20 PER play before his career was over. We'll see about Zion's longevity. I think Zion is pretty skilled actually, he's like a gigantic point guard on the court, good with passing and fancy shmancy layups.

I think if you expect him to be all nba level or whatever DEFENSIVELY, then yeah he's probably a bust on that end for sure. Draymond, Zion ain't.

[Mogspan]

34 10 and 6 in the win. Not bad for a bust. Just like some were premature to say Wemby isn't it due his off night 6pt performance, he then proceeds to record a rare 5x5 game and silence the pundits and detractors.

Tonight, Zion himself records a dominant all around game on 70% shooting to boot.

You can call him a dissapointment but a bust is just idiotic. The dude's career numbers are 25/7/5.

Why "NBA fans" are so quick to dismiss these next crop of stars is beyond me. Who exactly do you expect to entertain you once Lebron, Curry and KD have all retired?

Anthony Bennett, Darko, Fultz, Olowakandi those are all busts. Not a guy who who's been a 2 time all star in 5 years (and injuries being the only reason it wasn't at least 2 more).

He’s missed the last 2 games with an injury after his one and only good game… because of course he has. Only missed 3/8 of the season so far as a 24-year-old!

Look, Zion is spectacular when he’s on. I saw him as a rookie in person right before COVID struck, and it was the most entertained I’ve ever been by an individual at an NBA game:

Watch on YouTube

I’m not an anti-Zionist. I hope I’m wrong. I really do. It’s just looking like he’ll be a “kinda good player for 50 games a season” type of guy instead of this generational talent that we were promised, and it’s largely because he’s addicted to food and OF 304s.

[Joao Saraiva]

No bust. Zion is a great player, he can certainly make noise in big games if he is healthy. He needs to be healthy and in the right place obviously, but I believe he's proven he can be a massive talent in the NBA. No bust, just below expectations for generational player... and that is gonna happen a lot

[Hellcrooner]

I wouldnt call him a bust

Wouldnt be opposed to him being nicknamed, " the double bacon whopper with large fires"

[Clyde Frazier]

He still has time to turn his career around, but being that injury prone has been an issue. When you add in his questionable conditioning/commitment to rehab, you could start to put him in the "wasted talent" category. Again, only time will tell though.

[DwayneSchintzus]

he doesn't play enough to change the fortunes of his team in any meaningful way. You can't build around someone that is always injured, and his physical frame and weight issues are going to keep giving him problems.

I never bought into the hype - not even at Duke - because he looks like he is playing out of position - he should be a defensive tackle. He has decent playmaking instincts but a "fat boy jumper" and apart from that relies solely on athleticism. I never understood the Zion phenomenon other than the highlights.

The "bust" label is heavily dependent on your expecations going in. Relative to the hype I think he can be called that, but I never had those expectations for him so to me he isn't a "bust".

[ken6199]

If you call Zion a bust I am not what you call the likes of Tahbeet?

Step 1, don't overhype him. I was never so high on him during his college days as I question how his body and the way he relies on his body will transition into a long career in the NBA. The theory of player of his body type having a long consistent career in the NBA is simply against physics.

Now after a few years in the league, I've seen his commitment to conditioning. I am convinced he won't have a long career in the NBA like Jamal Crawford, KD, Lou Williams, etc.

However put all that together, he is still not a bust. Not even close.

[Cavsfansince84]

If you call Zion a bust I am not what you call the likes of Tahbeet?

Step 1, don't overhype him. I was never so high on him during his college days as I question how his body and the way he relies on his body will transition into a long career in the NBA. The theory of player of his body type having a long consistent career in the NBA is simply against physics.

Now after a few years in the league, I've seen his commitment to conditioning. I am convinced he won't have a long career in the NBA like Jamal Crawford, KD, Lou Williams, etc.

However put all that together, he is still not a bust. Not even close.

I agree in the sense that a true bust is a guy who isn't nearly as good as he was hyped up to be. You could give 10 examples of that without even trying. Zion is roughly as good as advertised imo. It's just that his weight and injuries have gotten in the way of him playing and progressing. He was basically a top 15 player at the age of 21.

[floppymoose]

What jumps out to me is that I feel his game hasnt advanced much. He's good but it feels like he could have been great.

[Mogspan]

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