Zion Williamson in the NBA?

[Mike87]

It’s almost like watching a 6’7 285 lb Westbrook who doesn’t handle the ball as much

[Triples333]

I don't think anyone is arguing with you. In back to back years we've had what are (to my eyes) the best prospects since LeBron in Luka and Zion.

I love Luka, but KD and AD were/are clearly better prospects. And I'm probably missing someone. Zion is just shy of Lebron talent wise, but could eclipse him on intangibles.

[Dan Z]

I think he is going to be better than Lebron.

So the GOAT basically, because anyone better than Lebron is either the GOAT or one of the contenders

That sounds like reasonable expectations. haha

[Speedlot]

Reminds me of Oden

[og15]

I think he is going to be better than Lebron.

So the GOAT basically, because anyone better than Lebron is either the GOAT or one of the contenders

That sounds like reasonable expectations. haha

Seriously! Sometimes I wonder if people are actually thinking about what they are posting. I have no problems with saying he'll be very good, great, but saying the guy will be the GOAT before he even plays an NBA season, heck, even an NBA game is just crazy.

[Dan Z]

So the GOAT basically, because anyone better than Lebron is either the GOAT or one of the contenders

That sounds like reasonable expectations. haha

Seriously! Sometimes I wonder if people are actually thinking about what they are posting. I have no problems with saying he'll be very good, great, but saying the guy will be the GOAT before he even plays an NBA season, heck, even an NBA game is just crazy.

Imagine if everyone thought he was going to be the GOAT (including NBA GM's)? That number one pick would be worth a fortune. A lifetime supply of number one picks from a team! Actually would that even be enough? haha.

[JShuttlesworth]

No doubt Zion is an all star. He’s going to be a beast. My question is how long he’ll be able to keep the weight down. He’s going to be NBA ready right from the jump though

[JN61]

I could see him to be Larry Johnson type of player. 22-25 points and 10 rebounds. Less versatile though right now.

[carrrnuttt]

Pretty easy bet to make that he won't be as good or better than Lebron or close. Ridiculously high bar to set.

People were saying stuff like this when bron was coming into the league and getting compared to guys. Same with other greats.

Lebron came into his draft year and league with people knowing well in advance he would be great and he would clearly go number 1 at 18years old from high school. The same cannot be said about Williamson at the start of this year or last year. I don’t recall an of these “people” you talk about. If you think it’s a safe bet or good chance to say Zion will be Lebron James, you’re not good at betting. If I took the other side of this I would be asking for really long odds.

If anything, Zion earned his hype more than LeBron did.

When Bron was balling in HS, he was already being touted like crazy. Bron also had a major advantage: A crappy hometown team that won the lottery and was going to draft him #1 come hell or high water, for the publicity alone.

In the meantime, I've been impressed by Zion going on 5 years now since his HS videos started popping up on YouTube, but he wasn't even considered the top prospect of his class. He EARNED his way to #1 (at least in consideration—the Draft hasn't happened yet) through his play against stiffer competition and better teammates than LeBron ever did in HS.

All this, despite people doubting that he'd be able "bully" his way around college players like he was doing in HS.

Do you want to see Zion's HS stats vs LeBron's? I thought you'd never ask:

Code: Select all

Freshman:
Bron: 18.0ppg | 6.2rpg | 3.6apg | 51.6% | 3.0blk | 3.3stl | 2.0to
Zion: 24.4ppg | 9.4rpg | 2.8apg | 57.0% | 1.0blk | 3.1stl | 2.1to

Sophomore:
Bron: 25.3ppg | 7.4rpg | 5.5apg | 58.4% | 1.6blk | 3.7stl | 2.3to
Zion: 28.7ppg | 10.4rpg | 2.5apg | 73.6% | 3.9blk | 2.7stl | 1.9to

Junior:
Bron: 28.0ppg | 8.9rpg | 6.0apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 3.0stl | 3.3to
Zion: 36.8ppg | 13.0rpg | 3.2apg | 76.3% | 2.5blk | 3.0stl | 2.3to

Senior:
Bron: 30.4ppg | 9.7rpg | 4.9apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 2.9stl | 2.8to
Zion: 36.4ppg | 11.4rpg | 3.5apg | 78.2% | 2.3blk | 3.4stl |1.8to


I mean, there's a direct comparison of how they did against the same level of competition...

[tondi123]

Dont laugh but he reminds me a bit of JR Reid as a freshman. Both guys were very strong and physical, especially for freshman. Reid was extremely highly rated coming out of HS and his freshman year did nothing to change the idea he was going to be a great player. Didnt really end up working out for him obviously. Zion can do some things he couldnt so hopefully things will end better for him.

[Johnny Bball]

People were saying stuff like this when bron was coming into the league and getting compared to guys. Same with other greats.

Lebron came into his draft year and league with people knowing well in advance he would be great and he would clearly go number 1 at 18years old from high school. The same cannot be said about Williamson at the start of this year or last year. I don’t recall an of these “people” you talk about. If you think it’s a safe bet or good chance to say Zion will be Lebron James, you’re not good at betting. If I took the other side of this I would be asking for really long odds.

If anything, Zion earned his hype more than LeBron did.

When Bron was balling in HS, he was already being touted like crazy. Bron also had a major advantage: A crappy hometown team that won the lottery and was going to draft him #1 come hell or high water, for the publicity alone.

In the meantime, I've been impressed by Zion going on 5 years now since his HS videos started popping up on YouTube, but he wasn't even considered the top prospect of his class. He EARNED his way to #1 (at least in consideration—the Draft hasn't happened yet) through his play against stiffer competition and better teammates than LeBron ever did in HS.

All this, despite people doubting that he'd be able "bully" his way around college players like he was doing in HS.

Do you want to see Zion's HS stats vs LeBron's? I thought you'd never ask:

Code: Select all

Freshman:
Bron: 18.0ppg | 6.2rpg | 3.6apg | 51.6% | 3.0blk | 3.3stl | 2.0to
Zion: 24.4ppg | 9.4rpg | 2.8apg | 57.0% | 1.0blk | 3.1stl | 2.1to

Sophomore:
Bron: 25.3ppg | 7.4rpg | 5.5apg | 58.4% | 1.6blk | 3.7stl | 2.3to
Zion: 28.7ppg | 10.4rpg | 2.5apg | 73.6% | 3.9blk | 2.7stl | 1.9to

Junior:
Bron: 28.0ppg | 8.9rpg | 6.0apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 3.0stl | 3.3to
Zion: 36.8ppg | 13.0rpg | 3.2apg | 76.3% | 2.5blk | 3.0stl | 2.3to

Senior:
Bron: 30.4ppg | 9.7rpg | 4.9apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 2.9stl | 2.8to
Zion: 36.4ppg | 11.4rpg | 3.5apg | 78.2% | 2.3blk | 3.4stl |1.8to


I mean, there's a direct comparison of how they did against the same level of competition...

Lol at Cleveland winning the draft being remotely related to him going first!!!!!!! And lmao at comparing high school stats.

[JN61]

He has the adult build of a young Lebron, but I dont think he has the talent or skillset that Lebron had when he first came into the league.

Lebron is the only player who adapted to the fast pace and toughness of the NBA since day one.

There is a chance Zion does the same, but keep in mind the current era of basketball is vastly different from when Lebron first came into the league in '03. I think Zion would be much more successful back then as opposed to entering the league next year.

Sorry but LeBron is not the only player who was NBA ready coming to the league. In fact there has been significantly better rookie campaigns than his.

[clyde21]

jesus some of the takes in this thread are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad.

[Audo]

He has the adult build of a young Lebron, but I dont think he has the talent or skillset that Lebron had when he first came into the league.

Lebron is the only player who adapted to the fast pace and toughness of the NBA since day one.

There is a chance Zion does the same, but keep in mind the current era of basketball is vastly different from when Lebron first came into the league in '03. I think Zion would be much more successful back then as opposed to entering the league next year.

Sorry but LeBron is not the only player who was NBA ready coming to the league. In fact there has been significantly better rookie campaigns than his.

At his age of 18.

But Magic came into the league and look at what he did in his rookie year at 19 years old.

[carrrnuttt]

Lebron came into his draft year and league with people knowing well in advance he would be great and he would clearly go number 1 at 18years old from high school. The same cannot be said about Williamson at the start of this year or last year. I don’t recall an of these “people” you talk about. If you think it’s a safe bet or good chance to say Zion will be Lebron James, you’re not good at betting. If I took the other side of this I would be asking for really long odds.

If anything, Zion earned his hype more than LeBron did.

When Bron was balling in HS, he was already being touted like crazy. Bron also had a major advantage: A crappy hometown team that won the lottery and was going to draft him #1 come hell or high water, for the publicity alone.

In the meantime, I've been impressed by Zion going on 5 years now since his HS videos started popping up on YouTube, but he wasn't even considered the top prospect of his class. He EARNED his way to #1 (at least in consideration—the Draft hasn't happened yet) through his play against stiffer competition and better teammates than LeBron ever did in HS.

All this, despite people doubting that he'd be able "bully" his way around college players like he was doing in HS.

Do you want to see Zion's HS stats vs LeBron's? I thought you'd never ask:

Code: Select all

Freshman:
Bron: 18.0ppg | 6.2rpg | 3.6apg | 51.6% | 3.0blk | 3.3stl | 2.0to
Zion: 24.4ppg | 9.4rpg | 2.8apg | 57.0% | 1.0blk | 3.1stl | 2.1to

Sophomore:
Bron: 25.3ppg | 7.4rpg | 5.5apg | 58.4% | 1.6blk | 3.7stl | 2.3to
Zion: 28.7ppg | 10.4rpg | 2.5apg | 73.6% | 3.9blk | 2.7stl | 1.9to

Junior:
Bron: 28.0ppg | 8.9rpg | 6.0apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 3.0stl | 3.3to
Zion: 36.8ppg | 13.0rpg | 3.2apg | 76.3% | 2.5blk | 3.0stl | 2.3to

Senior:
Bron: 30.4ppg | 9.7rpg | 4.9apg | 58.4% | 1.7blk | 2.9stl | 2.8to
Zion: 36.4ppg | 11.4rpg | 3.5apg | 78.2% | 2.3blk | 3.4stl |1.8to


I mean, there's a direct comparison of how they did against the same level of competition...

Lol at Cleveland winning the draft being remotely related to him going first!!!!!!! And lmao at comparing high school stats.

You can LOL all you want, but:

HS stats are all we can compare them fairly with until we can do it based on their rookie seasons, at least.

I was there for the LeBron hype - he was a man among boys in HS, yes but do you REALLY believe that if #1 went to anyone other than the Cavaliers, that no one else would have been considered? Here's LeBron's draft class Top 5:

1. LeBron James
2. Darko Miličić
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Bosh
5. Dwyane Wade

I mean, someone in that draft picked Darko SECOND! If hometown hype wasn't a major consideration, there's a chance a team that needed a SF would have picked someone who, at this point, had already proven themselves the best player in college and a championship team the prior season (Melo) - yeah, we know now that would have been a major mistake, but wouldn't have been known back then.

Case in point: http://www.hoopsvibe.com/features/38189-carmelo-anthony-vs-lebron-james

The Cavs obviously not only took James thinking he was the best player, but he’s a local boy from Akron, which means greater interest in him and an already developed fan base. All that turns into a lot more cash in the form of merchandise sales, media exposure, and ticket sales. As for improving the Cavaliers as a team, well that might not be so clear cut.

...

At only 19 years old Carmelo Anthony led the Syracuse Orangemen to the NCAA Title in his freshman year, leading not only in his play but by his example. Many people have made the argument that if Anthony was the best player he would have been the #1 selection in the draft, but it was James who went first, with all the ESPN coverage and media hype. Just take a look at the level of competition these two were facing, where James was playing against 15-17 year old high school players who clearly were not any match for a more physically mature James, Carmelo was going up against some of the best college players in the game, who in their own right will be in the NBA someday.

[Johnny Bball]

HS stats are all we can compare them fairly with until we can do it based on their rookie seasons, at least.

I was there for the LeBron hype - he was a man among boys in HS, yes but do you REALLY believe that if #1 went to anyone other than the Cavaliers, that no one else would have been considered?

At only 19 years old Carmelo Anthony led the Syracuse Orangemen to the NCAA Title in his freshman year, leading not only in his play but by his example. Many people have made the argument that if Anthony was the best player he would have been the #1 selection in the draft, but it was James who went first, with all the ESPN coverage and media hype. Just take a look at the level of competition these two were facing, where James was playing against 15-17 year old high school players who clearly were not any match for a more physically mature James, Carmelo was going up against some of the best college players in the game, who in their own right will be in the NBA someday.

You are comparing apples and oranges. No you can't compare high school stats just like you can't compare Div 1 and Div II stats and NBA to each other.

I am that old as well, and older. I don't even know what to say but you don't have it right.... There was NOBODY going first but James. From the ear before until the draft. No matter who picked. Cover of SI in HS, "the Chosen One" ...Come on...

[JN61]

He has the adult build of a young Lebron, but I dont think he has the talent or skillset that Lebron had when he first came into the league.

Lebron is the only player who adapted to the fast pace and toughness of the NBA since day one.

There is a chance Zion does the same, but keep in mind the current era of basketball is vastly different from when Lebron first came into the league in '03. I think Zion would be much more successful back then as opposed to entering the league next year.

Sorry but LeBron is not the only player who was NBA ready coming to the league. In fact there has been significantly better rookie campaigns than his.

At his age of 18.

But Magic came into the league and look at what he did in his rookie year at 19 years old.

Lebron was 19 when he came to NBA wasn't he? But if you want out of high school: Moses Malone.

[Woody Allen]

He's too short and stubby for the positions he plays to be better than Lebron. That's it.

He'll have a hard time getting those shots at NBA level. Proper NBA defenses and players like Rudy Gobert can slam him to the ground.

[The_Hater]

I don't think anyone is arguing with you. In back to back years we've had what are (to my eyes) the best prospects since LeBron in Luka and Zion.

Oden, Durant and AD were in between those two groups. All of them would have been ranked well above Doncic as a prospect. John Wall too.

As good as Doncic is now, and I thought he should have gone #1 in the draft just as I’m sure you did, the fact he had so many doubters discounts his elite prospect status.

[NY 567]

His height, durability issues, and lack of shooting are all concerns. I think Durant and Luka were better prospects but Zion still probably gonna be really good. His floor is probably Julius Randle