2019 NBA Draft profile: Duke forward Zion Williamson
By Ananth Para
With 2019 NBA Draft upon us, it’s time to look at the consensus No. 1 prospect and overwhelming favorite to go at the top of the draft, Zion Williamson.
After a plethora of mesmerizing mixtapes and dunk montages, Zion Williamson arrived onto the Duke University campus as the No. 2 freshman prospect in college basketball behind teammate R.J Barrett. Although statistically impressive, Barrett was unable to supersede expectations as Zion did.
With Williamson’s high school dominance translating into being the best college freshman season in recent memory, the emergence of his cache is being measured up against NBA legend LeBron James prior to the 2003 NBA Draft.
The LeBron comparisons have zero merit to Williamson, as their games have little to no similarities to one another, outside of being generational level athletes at such a young age.
With the impending departure of NBA superstar Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans have another opportunity to successfully build a title contender around a blue-chip prospect with Zion Williamson.
Through his time at Duke, Zion showed off his once in a lifetime athleticism, underrated court vision and a natural “nose” for the ball on the glass — the perfect combination for a combo forward at the next level.
It’s time to look at Zion Williamson’s 2019 NBA Draft profile, including his strengths, weaknesses, some film breakdown and his overall outlook.
2019 NBA Draft Profile
- Name: Zion Williamson
- Height: 6’7″
- Weight: 285 pounds
- Position: Power forward/Small forward
- School: Duke
- Player Comparison: Larry Johnson/Charles Barkley
2018-19 Statistics
- 22.6 PPG
- 8.9 RPG
- 2.1 APG
- 68.0 FG%
- 33.8 3P%
- 64.0 FT%