is Zion basically Shawn Kemp?

GrindCityHustle · Post #1 » by **GrindCityHustle** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:48 am

discuss

https://cbssportsradio.radio.com/articles/former-nba-player-zion-glorified-shawn-kemp-amateurism-bull

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/27813170

Watch on YouTube

miamiheat319 · Post #2 » by **miamiheat319** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:50 am

I always thought his career trajectory would end up like Larry Johnson's, but I can definitely see Kemp as well

JoeyLightYears · Post #3 » by **JoeyLightYears** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:51 am

He's fat Kemp with young Kemp's game.

But for real, Zion put up numbers in college that are unprecedented and I expect him to be one of the top (if not the top) players in the league if he ever gets in a system where they run the offense through him. Right now they are using him like DeAndre Jordan, which is like Dallas using Luka as Luke Kennard.

70sFan · Post #4 » by **70sFan** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:31 am

Kemp had better midrange game and was much better defensively. Zion is more dominant inside.

sikma42 · Post #5 » by **sikma42** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:35 am

JoeyLightYears wrote:He's fat Kemp with young Kemp's game.

But for real, Zion put up numbers in college that are unprecedented and I expect him to be one of the top (if not the top) players in the league if he ever gets in a system where they run the offense through him. Right now they are using him like DeAndre Jordan, which is like Dallas using Luka as Luke Kennard.

Can he handle more creating more offense for himself? he seems to get gassed very easily

NY 567 · Post #6 » by **NY 567** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:35 am

Zion is better inside scoring the ball but really doesnt offer anything in the way of rebounding, playmaking, or defense. He's comparable to Kemp but Kemp was better everywhere else

kodo · Post #7 » by **kodo** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:53 am

Kemp was more of a freak athlete, Zion is more of a traditional power bruiser underneath.
Kemp in his mental prime probably has a ring if he didn't have to play during MJ's era, so it's still quite a compliment.

GSP · Post #8 » by **GSP** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:56 am

Thats going too far hes about 13 children away

BuddyBuckets · Post #9 » by **BuddyBuckets** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:01 am

JoeyLightYears wrote:He's fat Kemp with young Kemp's game.

But for real, Zion put up numbers in college that are unprecedented and I expect him to be one of the top (if not the top) players in the league if he ever gets in a system where they run the offense through him. Right now they are using him like DeAndre Jordan, which is like Dallas using Luka as Luke Kennard.

Wow people And 1'd this? Do you even watch the Pels?

Zion often gets plays run for him to post up, dribble drive from the perimeter, as much if not more than being the roll guy. Absolutely nothing like DJ.

Barkley is the best comparison.

BuddyBuckets · Post #10 » by **BuddyBuckets** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:02 am

I really think people should watch a Pels game before commenting on how Zion plays.

JoeyLightYears · Post #11 » by **JoeyLightYears** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:16 am

BuddyBuckets wrote:
JoeyLightYears wrote:He's fat Kemp with young Kemp's game.

But for real, Zion put up numbers in college that are unprecedented and I expect him to be one of the top (if not the top) players in the league if he ever gets in a system where they run the offense through him. Right now they are using him like DeAndre Jordan, which is like Dallas using Luka as Luke Kennard.

Wow people And 1'd this? Do you even watch the Pels?

Zion often gets plays run for him to post up, dribble drive from the perimeter, as much if not more than being the roll guy. Absolutely nothing like DJ.

Barkley is the best comparison.

Ok, DJ is obviously an extreme example but my point is that Zion could be so much more if they actually ran the offense through him, but coaches are so terrified of going to inside-out ball that they basically have him as a third or fourth option on every play.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches/?Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=TOUCHES&dir=1

Take a look at that. See if you can find Zion. Hint: he's not on the first page, where all the good players are.

Barkley isn't a bad comparison although IMO Zion is way more talented and Chuck was way more aggressive.

BuddyBuckets · Post #12 » by **BuddyBuckets** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:35 am

JoeyLightYears wrote:
BuddyBuckets wrote:
JoeyLightYears wrote:He's fat Kemp with young Kemp's game.

But for real, Zion put up numbers in college that are unprecedented and I expect him to be one of the top (if not the top) players in the league if he ever gets in a system where they run the offense through him. Right now they are using him like DeAndre Jordan, which is like Dallas using Luka as Luke Kennard.

Wow people And 1'd this? Do you even watch the Pels?

Zion often gets plays run for him to post up, dribble drive from the perimeter, as much if not more than being the roll guy. Absolutely nothing like DJ.

Barkley is the best comparison.

Ok, DJ is obviously an extreme example but my point is that Zion could be so much more if they actually ran the offense through him, but coaches are so terrified of going to inside-out ball that they basically have him as a third or fourth option on every play.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches/?Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=TOUCHES&dir=1

Take a look at that. See if you can find Zion. Hint: he's not on the first page, where all the good players are.

Barkley isn't a bad comparison although IMO Zion is way more talented and Chuck was way more aggressive.

I agree they could run the offense through Zion more and my sense is, from watching like 70% of Pels games this year, that they are moving more so towards doing that. It's pretty tough when you have Lonzo, Bledsoe and Ingram as well who are all competent playmakers. It will become easier as time goes on because Zion still has limits on what he can (or is allowed) to do. Once he can start a dribble drive and pull up for a J and hit it consistently (which I'm sure he does all the time in practice) then he has counter moves. Right now he's pretty easy to telegraph. And yet still quite unstoppable. But if you force it through him a lot he'll just get called for offensive fouls running into peeps

Alonzo_Morning · Post #13 » by **Alonzo_Morning** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:37 am

NY 567 wrote:Zion is better inside scoring the ball but really doesnt offer anything in the way of rebounding, playmaking, or defense. He's comparable to Kemp but Kemp was better everywhere else

Saying Zion doesn't playmake is rubbish. It's his most underrated skill

MrOrange · Post #14 » by **MrOrange** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:38 am

GSP wrote:Thats going too far hes about 13 children away

And way more liquor bottles away. Those two do not look like a good comparison. Kemp's career is largely what could have been vs what was achieved.

israelfirst · Post #15 » by **israelfirst** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:48 am

Kemp was actually a pretty good player. Zion isnt.

BuddyBuckets · Post #16 » by **BuddyBuckets** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:13 am

israelfirst wrote:Kemp was actually a pretty good player. Zion isnt.

Bahahaha hahahaha, nice one nephew.

Wilfried · Post #17 » by **Wilfried** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:20 am

He's built like LJ, he plays more like Barkley without the smooth jumper and is as explosive around the basket as Shawn Kemp

Something like that?

israelfirst · Post #18 » by **israelfirst** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:26 am

BuddyBuckets wrote:
israelfirst wrote:Kemp was actually a pretty good player. Zion isnt.

Bahahaha hahahaha, nice one nephew.

Zion's best case scenario is a more athletic Eddy Curry.

LewisnotMiller · Post #19 » by **LewisnotMiller** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:31 am

MrOrange wrote:
GSP wrote:Thats going too far hes about 13 children away

And way more liquor bottles away. Those two do not look like a good comparison. Kemp's career is largely what could have been vs what was achieved.

His prime was short, but 94-96 is a pretty good peak.
I don't see the Kemp-Zion comparison though. They were both athletes...that's about where it ends for me.

LewisnotMiller · Post #20 » by **LewisnotMiller** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:33 am

Wilfried wrote:He's built like LJ, he plays more like Barkley without the smooth jumper and is as explosive around the basket as Shawn Kemp

Something like that?

Young LJ was ridiculously explosive. In terms of size and explosiveness, that looks like the best comp.

Ultimately, if Zion reaches what he could possibly reach, he'll be a fairly unique player.