I'm calling it now, on 3-18-2019: Zion Williamson will be a BUST in the NBA

Lols there's chunks of you in my doody

Zion played his way from ~#5 draft pick to obvious #1 overall this year.

Nobody can name a more athletic 19 year old to ever enter the NBA.

Unless you're predicting injury it's hard to see how he could be a 'bust.'

Harambe wrote:

Zion played his way from ~#5 draft pick to obvious #1 overall this year.

Nobody can name a more athletic 19 year old to ever enter the NBA.

Shawn Kemp? KG?

not as fat wrote:

Harambe wrote:

Zion played his way from ~#5 draft pick to obvious #1 overall this year.

Nobody can name a more athletic 19 year old to ever enter the NBA.

Shawn Kemp? KG?

Zion is 275-85 but has a 44inch vertical. He can play above the rim better than those guys AND has a bigger body. It's unreal.

Harambe wrote:

Zion played his way from ~#5 draft pick to obvious #1 overall this year.

Nobody can name a more athletic 19 year old to ever enter the NBA.

Unless you're predicting injury it's hard to see how he could be a 'bust.'

You are right he will be 19 in NBA, as he turns 19 in July. Would you expect an 18 yo to continue improving? Yes

How many pros could play now, vs Cuse, UNC, and Fl State and shoot 33 for 43 (that includes 3 or 4 missed 3 pointers I think) and defend like he does (the steals and crazy blocks, like the one on Luke Maye with about 1:30 left)?

There are some guys who could do it- but they are really good NBA players.

The Jeff wrote:

He's no LeBron, KD, or Kobe, like everyone seems to be saying. Won't be a generational player at the next level. He looks great charging through other 18 year olds who can't remember defensive set assignments.

this is the best post in the thread

correct answer wrote:

The Jeff wrote:

He's no LeBron, KD, or Kobe, like everyone seems to be saying. Won't be a generational player at the next level. He looks great charging through other 18 year olds who can't remember defensive set assignments.

this is the best post in the thread

Zion will dominate in an iso-style NBA offense. Nobody his size can stay with him. If they try he will just go over them.

The Jeff wrote:

He'll get picked by the Knicks where he will be stuck for years with poor management, coaching, rosters and will wistfully watch as teams in the same division, Philly and Boston, routinely make deep playoff runs. He's being projected to be a Charles Barkley type but will wind up more like Larry Johnson or Oliver Miller.

I’m not as much worried about his playing ability (and potential playing ability) as I am with his body. What we are seeing more and more of are super explosive college players who play what 40 games (?) max in basically the same length season as the NBA , whose bodies just can’t handle training camp, preseason and the brutality of an NBA season. Best example - Derrick Rose - was just too explosive for his own body, the wear and tear caught up with him after 3 good seasons and he was done. Someone mentioned Blake Griffin - not quite as bad but it derailed his career enough. I mean Zion is so big and powerful he exploded through the shoes on his very feet. So I don’t think ability will ever let this dude down - I would be amazed if his body can last.

This has been my opinion since October. I don't think he can last a whole season in the NBA.

#1 overall picks who were bigger busts than Zion will be:

Pervis Ellison

Joe Smith

Michael Olowokandi

Kwame Brown

Andrew Bogut

Andrea Bagnani

Greg Oden

Anthony Bennett

Andrew Wiggins

Markelle Fultz?

I'd put his floor as the Larry Johnson, Derrick Coleman, Elton Brand level. All of those guys were multiple time all-stars who had quite a few productive years as 20/10 types. Sure everybody wants their #1 overall pick to be an all time Hall of Famer like Lebron or Tim Duncan. But as the list above illustrates, this is not always the result. A multiple time all star is a pretty good outcome and can't really be described as a bust.

the #1 pick has historically averaged 16.6 pts and 7.8 rebounds a game.

Zion will exceed this and not be a bust.

He has had no injury issues besides a freak knee sprain from equipment failure. Unsure why people are betting on injuries here. Most NBA players handle a season fine. There's no reason for Zion to be the exception without prior evidence.

Harambe "#1 Zion fan until I die"

I disagree. With today's NBA, all the "load management" (whether you buy into it or not), and what happened to DRose's career as mentioned above, longevity and durability will be the first thing on the radar for whatever team drafts him. I also believe that while it's inhumanly freakish that he can be as explosive as he is while carrying that weight, he will actually slim down a bit after a few years in the NBA, at least by appearance. I think he'll be fine. A lot of the problem with Rose was you could see in how he twisted and landed while driving. He wasn't big enough and you could see the strain on his body. I don't see Zion having much similarity to that.

Most NBA players handle a season fine?

The list of high usage rookies who have been injured is quite extensive. The list of NBA players who get injured is also long.

coach wrote:

Most NBA players handle a season fine?

The list of high usage rookies who have been injured is quite extensive. The list of NBA players who get injured is also long.

Look up the word 'most'

Regarding Rose a well known trainer posted years ago that he was an ACL injury waiting to happen. he was a quad dominant athlete, he had a pronounced anterior pelvic tilt and never addressed these issues before it was too late. I haven't thought about "load management" that is relatively new. I hope you're right about Zion. But watching Doncic limp around doesn't change my opinion.

Incidentally, even some of those "busts" as #1 picks played a long time in the NBA as productive rotation players. Joe Smith, Andrew Bogut. Hell even Kwame Brown played for 12 years, he wasn't very good, but getting overdrafted by Michael Jordan was a curse. If he was drafted, say, 7th, or 12th that same year he really wouldn't be remembered much.

Much more exciting than slow defensive games. Also puts more people in the seats.

The Jeff wrote:

How about Melo, fair to call him a bust?

Melo's shot selection is terrible and he's struggled to adapt to the modern game. But look at his numbers objectively. He's a sure thing hall of famer. Maybe not unanimous, but first ballot no doubt.