NBA: Player attributes once seen as a flaw that are now an asset

5. Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson is one of the most remarkable players to come into the NBA since LeBron James. He was drafted this past year with the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans. While Zion has endless strengths including his explosiveness, strength and athleticism, he also has his share of weaknesses.

NBADraft.net said his biggest weakness is that his “playing style and weight puts a lot of pressure on his legs and feet. The question begs to be asked whether he can stay on the floor for a lengthy NBA career. He will likely need to drop another 15-to-20 lbs in order to sustain his playing style… 250-260 lbs would be ideal.”

Williamson has had a lot of people saying that he’s overweight or that he needs to lose X amount of pounds. While these concerns are valid, one of the things that makes Zion so special is his incredible combination of size and speed. He uses his weight to his advantage by outmuscling even the biggest guys in the NBA and uses his speed and quickness to blow by slower players.

Zion Williamson still has a long NBA career ahead of him and it is likely that he will stay around this weight for the rest of his career. If he was to drop a certain amount of weight it could potentially prolong his career but it could also drastically change the way he plays the game. Zion is an elite talent at ~285 lbs and that is where he should stay.