Ben was among the 1st to call Jokic future MVP caliber player 2-3 years ago and here we are now, so i believe Zion will have very bright future in NBA if he stays healthy.
It's really fascinating to see how fluid he is on offense, his movement seems crisp and purposeful, but on defense he's just so stiff - looks like his size there.
@@NotOneToFly True but I think there are also things he can improve in terms of his reads and technique that can lessen the disadvantages of his size as shown in the video. By increasing his positional awareness, keeping his hands up in passing lanes, and limiting his unnecessary lunges, he could be an avarage to decent defender with his size as is.
Yup defense is where he’s going to injure himself. He’s going to try too hard on defense, injure himself, and it’s going to hurt his offense. His offense will suffer and his defense will stay bad. Then he will be just a decent offensive player that can’t play D. Out of league in 5 years if it happens.
Love the points about the uniqueness of Zion’s jumping - his broad jump, second jump, and horizontal jumping ability are all even more impressive than his vertical
@@nostalgicbliss5547 That's because Barkley is one of the best rebounders of all time. He deserves a spot in the greatest pick list. His stretch from 86 to 91 is just insane.
The first thing that stood out to me when watching Zion was his second jump. He lands and then jumps again before the defender has even left his feet. Dude really out here pressing the double jump irl.
@@TheKyubiisaan I don't think dude meant it as a negative. Prob just meant that him being a lefty makes it more unique and harder to defend. Majority of people in society are right handed. It's just like a fighter facing a southpaw.
Exactly. Completely agree. Its not even the jumping. The combination of his soft touch, ability to create space, and nimbleness/body control is insane. Shaq and LeBron just went through people. Zion is somehow able to slide by and around defenders like he's 200 pounds but still use his frame to discard them to create an angle. It doesn't even look real sometimes. Its like when something happens on 2K that looks fake and on instant reply you realize it glitched and the player teleported. Except this is real
Zion, offensively, reminds me of a wrecking ball version of pre-injury Derrick Rose. Very crafty & imaginative in creating ways to get to the basket. And Williamson’s strength unlocks a new dimension in that regard.
I know Giannis is better than him but I prefer Zion’s game more. Zion just seems more effective scoring the ball. Zion has better handles & is quicker than Giannis so it seems he can get to the paint better than Giannis. Zion doesn’t need an outside jumper like a Giannis, it seems he can get in the paint even if they put a wall cause he got that Dwade quickness to his game where he can beat his man to the spot before the defense is set & he has the IQ to split the defense like a Wade. Zion is also better in the post. Giannis looks awkward when he post up on the block & u can push Giannis from the low post all the way to the elbow cause he’s not super strong when he post up he loses good positioning easily unless there’s a mismatch, most of the time Giannis is at the midpost & elbow taking contested turnarounds & fadaways that are hit or miss. Zion bullies his way in the post like Shaq using that left hand. Zion seems to even prefer posting up more than going off the dribble & to me that’s a more winning style starting & ending your offense in the post, plus Zion is a good passer so him passing out of that post can make him even more effective. Zion flaws are defensively, he needs to be a better defender & rebounder, if he’s better in those two things he can be the best player
Zion Williamson is a special player. He isn't dunking like people was expecting him to do two years ago (based on his HS and collegiate career), sparing his knees on the process, but his understanding of the game is awesome for this young player. His unique combination of speed, verticality, strength, agility and soft touch around the hoop is refreshing and his playing excessively well when he's in the low/high post (like Sabonis, Jokic & Randle). We'll -- maybe -- see a renaissance of post players in the near future because of Zion! Great video.
the quality of this content is amazing. it's incredible it's free. it's clear you have a passion for this. easily the best basketball TH-cam channel. Your videos are insightful, you don't just pump out videos w/ click bait titles then point out which play they're running. keep it up
Ehhhhhhh I don’t think every player needs to be able to dominate out of the triple threat like that. I think it’s enough that he can shoot wide open shots
Wow. Haven't really paid attention to basketball in a long time, but seeing this kid is a trip. He's like malfunctioning my brain rn. His power and explosion, he's like Shawn Kemp around the rim and drives to the hole aggressively like Jordan, and he's got handles.. and he's only 20! What will he become holy shit I can't imagine, I'm going to pay attention from now on
He has way more finesse and skillful elegant finishing than I expected I thought it would be almost all brute force but he has both. Seems like a really solid point forward. Good for him.
So refreshing to watch a Zion breakdown where hes not portrayed as the next Magic Johnson as a passer. I cannot stress how much I enjoy these videos. Everything is always contextualized and players weaknesses are openly acknowledged along with their strengths.
I noticed Zion when he was a senior in high school and was sold on his talent . I remember having disagreements with people believing he wouldn't do anything in collage let alone the NBA!" He's better than I thought he would be !"
Humility caps all of this off perfectly ✅ Seems like a great dude in addition to all this talent I hope he keeps wearing humility ~ it looks really good on him
He is my all time most favorite player to have watch. As much as we hear this about certain ball players, this time we really really really really mean this because he is so much different Than anyone that has ever played. True unique talent. It’s the most amazing thing I have ever seen from a player. I hope he finds something what Jordan found. If not better.
It has to be stated that SVG is a hell of a coach for being this creative with creating offense for a player. That runway screen is a great example of an adjustment that worked, They run in in different PnRs andpops, they let him bring the ball down, there's so much here I haven't even touched upon. It's a coaching match made in heaven, Fizdale wouldn't have been able to handle this
This aspect of horizontal floating is basically why a MJ was so great which I see in Zion's finishes. MJ just floated past contests which with long arms and touch made it near impossible to stop him on a drive. That insane leaping ability makes it so hard to stop. Imagine you can jump, watch a dude jump and see him go down quicker than you do. Well this is literal tank coming at you. I think people are not realising enough that if not for injuries, purely based on stats, Zion is a contender for the top 10 of all time at the end of his career. Hes already recording top 3 all time numbers in scoring, scoring efficiency and all around stat lines. In his second year with a lot games missed of the previous.
This is with the Pelicans tanking his defensive rebounding numbers by having him leak out into transition instead of allowing him into the paint where he'd utterly dominate the defensive glass and even further validate the Barkley comparisons we are all aware of.
@@toteispoe4 Agree my man. The Pels use the same tactic as the Thunder with Westbrook. The bigs box out and the guard grabs the rebound to make a quick transition easier. Its basically why you see Hart who is a good rebounder nonetheless average 8 or something or why they are top 5 in defensive rebounding even though both big men dont average 10.
@@NothingElseMattersJM Yea Nash and Kidd became great when they were 28 and 30. Doesnt mean a lot dude and based on stats hes already a top 5 player. You do realize the dude is 21 recording numbers in his second year only Wilt and MJ recorded right?
@@alkebulanlion6198 regardless of who’s better, neither are good enough (yet) at leading their team to the playoffs. at the moment, both are lacking at shot creation and defense. to me, it doesn’t matter who’s better until the Pels start winning games more consistently.
This is exactly what I *wanted to see* when Zion first entered the league. We need he was a freak athlete but I wanted to see his skill match that or at least compliment it! He really has the potential to be a superstar now!
Zion was already doing this in early 2020 after he came back from the injury, then Covid happened. He looked in real bad shape in the Bubble, but that was 5 months later.
A guard like handle, with explosive first step ideal for small forward and a bulky body of a power forward. Rebounding like a relentless center with buttery smooth layups. The embodiment of the potitionless basketball.
@@NM-ev7pu Pelicans are an elite rebounding team. He can easily average 10+ rebounds if he just hunted for more defensive rebounds like you see so many guards do these days.
@@NM-ev7pu Shaq was heavier cause he was taller. Shaq at 20 was like 295. Zion is currently around 285-290 at 20 and he is 6 inches shorter than Shaq. Shaq didnt get to like 340 till his LA years.
Man don't talke about deep launch points... How do you think Michael Jordan got the nickname "air?" I remember early in MJ's career when he came down the court with the ball, took off damn near from the 3 point line, stuck both legs out in front like he was sitting in a chair (while in the air), arms raised straight up like a player going for a two handed dunk, but he floated like that almost from the 3 point line...in mid air, and powered down a two hander. I was like "OMFG!!!!" Was that for real!? Even the broadcaster was talking about how he levitated. But I'll give Zion "props" for being practically 300 lbs and moving like that.
@@JimboCruntz Imagine if you could fusion dance the two into one player... Move over Gotenks and let's bow down to the basketball god Zioncic! The GOAT debate would wrap up real quick. Haha.
I wish this video had talked more about his touch. To me, it's not just how easily he gets to the rim or the ability to finish through contact. He has such a soft touch once he's there. He has so many difficult finishes that bounce a couple times on the rim and drop in.
He legit has the touch of a small guard like Tony Parker. I remember when Parker was in his prime, he would drive into the heart of the defense, surrounded by huge defenders and still find a way to create space and finish with ridiculous touch. Parker also abused the spin moves in the paint, he was so crafty. Zion legit has a bit of Charles Barkley (power, second jump) Michael Jordan (quick moves and excellent footwork around the basket) Derrick Rose (explosive first step, jumping from odd angles and still finishing with excellent body control), and Tony Parker because of Parker's craftiness and touch around the basket. He is a phenomenal talent. Just hope he improves his defense, free-throw shooting and at least adds a 12-15 ft jumper. He doesn't need a three-point shot to be the best player in the league and the face of the NBA!
This is what I noticed about Zion when he first played those Duke exhibition games in Canada -- he has INCREDIBLE touch around the rim and absolutely zero hesitation when he's attacking. You cannot teach what he has. You can develop it, and especially work on that outside shot, but you can't teach what he has.
The pelicans honestly have a very bright future and have a good plan. I can understand exactly what Griffin and SVG are trying to do with each player and as a team
Yeah. People were disrespecting SVG most this season, ignoring that SVG's ONLY priority for next couple years is developing Zion's offense (not just iso ball but using his teammates, being a threat off-ball, etc.) and slowly work on his defensive awareness, while keeping him happy.
the defence section was spot on, he just looks really awkward with his footwork. really interested to see what his career becomes, he's an exciting player.
If he adopts a Jordanesk work ethic, as opposed to a Shack work ethic, we could see a virtual monster, in the making! Amazing break down of his skill set. It could not have been explained better by anyone. Nor could he have had better representation of his abilities, in any format. Thank You for the great video!
Naw. Charles was more dynamic and had more mid range scoring, dribble, and post moves then Zion. Zion is more of a Larry Johnson, who also relied heavily on his strength and athletic abilities. If Zion doesn’t LOSE WEIGHT or develop his game more, he’s going to struggle exactly like Larry did later in his career. Is Zion still good if he has to play below the rim? Not really. Man is built like a linebacker. Needs to lose 40lbs and play SF if he wants to avoid injury and be a star longer then 5years
He does remind me of first-year Barkley with his dynamism and willingness to go to the hole, but also Larry Johnson on offense with all that brings, as Big Ugly mentioned. Barkley developed faster, though, adding post moves, fitness and a jumper under Moses' guidance, and Barkley had pretty good defense right away. What Zion seems to have also is support from the owner and coach in NO. All Charles got in Philly was Harold Katz nickel-and-diming away the rest of his quality teammates and coach for cheaper, lousier replacements.
I agree 💯 At 68 games, in terms of experience, Zion is still less than 2 seasons removed from high school. He didn’t really play a full season at Duke either. If he can keep learning and stay healthy, he’s up there with all the big names.
I been saying since his high school breakout HE WAS DIFFERENT!!! Folks were saying “ he is just big” but weren’t adding he could maintain control of the ball! He was running the floor like a guard. Explosive af like a PF.
We literaly had 2 top5 young performers of all time being drafted in back to back drafts...man the league is so stacked with talent right now, if only refs and sometimes the rules wouldnt drag it down.
Been thinking a lot about Zion and the type of team that should be put around him.... Eventually, my favourite theoretical structure is along the lines of the Kawhi Raptors with a Villanova flavour. Having a lead guard like Kyle Lowry makes a lot of sense for a Zion team, as does a shooting guard and small forward tandem of Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. All can dribble (varying degrees), pass (again) and shoot. The C position is still up in the air, but a Marc Gasol type really feels right. This structure has an incredible defensive presence at the point of attack and anchor the backline so that Zion can be more of the free safety while being surrounded by strong communicators. Can’t wait to see how he develops, but if I’m the Pels I would look at players that fit that bill. Great video as always.
If Zion gets a consistent jumper or + post game and works on his FTs, the kid is basically going to be Jordanesque with Shaq/Barkley strength & power! League will be on lockdown!! Now if he can improve on defense and be more aggressive, forget about it!!!... He’ll be compared to Mike!! The kid’s finesse, athleticism, handles, and touch around the rim reminds me of MJ but with the strength and power of Shaq/Barkley(something about his game is similar to Barkley too, but it just isn’t there yet)!! Watch out!! He’s next in line! Btw Ben, analytics isn’t the end all be all. Analytics DOES NOT tell you the WHOLE story.
I’ll never forget when everyone was saying that he was an overrated Blake Griffin and will be shut down by NBA big men. Well, Zion is bullying those NBA big men and he’s already showing that he can do more than just dunk
man is just playing with his physical abilities and a left hand, but already destroying defenses Imagine an average jumpshot and a right hand as well, like it's the end
I feel like there is a nice comparison between how Zion's high fg% is underrated, and Luka's 3% is underrated. Zion with his 2nd jump catching and putting back a lot of his misses, and Luka's 3 point shot difficulty. Two amazing stats that might show how crazy these two young players are in the league!
@@connorlytle4235 Luka probably just isn’t that good of a shooter based on his 74% free throw. I think the bubble season without fans this year is probably inflating his %’s. I’ll change my tune if he has good shooting season from downtown in the future. He’s probably more of a tough shit maker than a good shooter.
My love hate relationship with Zion is watching him in awe on the offensive side of the floor, while facepalming as he putters around on the defensive end. Still, my favorite player to watch in the NBA amongst the flood of these 3 and D archetype players.
He is special. I feel like he’ll be an all time great player if he stays healthy. He is not even done playing his “rookie szn” and look at what he is doing. The form of his jumpshot looks pretty smooth too, just gotta work on it and he’ll be even better. Those Luka-Zion battles are gonna be exceptional in a few yrs and they are both in the West.
Damn! I've been waiting for this. Watching him is so interesting. No one else really plays like him today. He's like Shaq with Jordan's ability to get to the rim from the perimeter.
What impresses me the most is his positioning and impeccable timing on his jumps..his second jump to be exact is pretty insane to see for someone his size
HIs knees are going to implode. I like him, and I want him to succeed, but there is no way he's going to maintain that explosiveness unless he reduces his playing weight. He's 6'7", not 7'1", so he can't expect to just power through double-teams once his speed is gone, and gone it will be when his menisci finally give up. It's too bad, because his game is great, he's got fantastic handles, quickness, and good basketball IQ.
Would love to see a reevaluation of Michael Porter Jr. Dude has been setting the league on fire the past weeks and he’s shooting 45% from 3 on the season at 6’10!! His defense has been fantastic too. He has the body to match up with Durant if they get out of the west
Ben was among the 1st to call Jokic future MVP caliber player 2-3 years ago and here we are now, so i believe Zion will have very bright future in NBA if he stays healthy.
Fingers crossed.
@@ThinkingBasketball you need to start talking more about cricket
🙌
@Negus Pool that’s a big prediction
@Negus Pool he's not as big as shaq has worse handles than mj but i think the barkley comparison is very accurate
It's really fascinating to see how fluid he is on offense, his movement seems crisp and purposeful, but on defense he's just so stiff - looks like his size there.
His mass is definitely a problem on defense. On offense, everyone else has to react to HIS momentum, on defense, his inertia is a problem.
@@NotOneToFly True but I think there are also things he can improve in terms of his reads and technique that can lessen the disadvantages of his size as shown in the video. By increasing his positional awareness, keeping his hands up in passing lanes, and limiting his unnecessary lunges, he could be an avarage to decent defender with his size as is.
Yup defense is where he’s going to injure himself. He’s going to try too hard on defense, injure himself, and it’s going to hurt his offense. His offense will suffer and his defense will stay bad. Then he will be just a decent offensive player that can’t play D. Out of league in 5 years if it happens.
@@jaykiefonseca 6’6 280lbs dunking like he’s Derrick rose. Uh yea fat boi is running on borrowed time
@@TOGGGAA1 can tell u don’t watch
Love the points about the uniqueness of Zion’s jumping - his broad jump, second jump, and horizontal jumping ability are all even more impressive than his vertical
He is Barkley 2.0
@@OjoRojo40 thankyouuuu ive been saying the same thing, not just bc hes 6'6'' 285 he has many similar attributes to Charles
@@Peep502 I saw Barkley when he played in the 76ers, the resemblance is uncanny.
@@OjoRojo40 He doesn't rebound like Barkley though. And Barkley didn't attack from on top of the key like Zion does.
@@nostalgicbliss5547 That's because Barkley is one of the best rebounders of all time.
He deserves a spot in the greatest pick list. His stretch from 86 to 91 is just insane.
The first thing that stood out to me when watching Zion was his second jump. He lands and then jumps again before the defender has even left his feet. Dude really out here pressing the double jump irl.
My only knock on Zion is his rebounding intensity. He can be a great rebounder
Best inside scorer since a young bron the way in which he can move is unbelievable for someone of his size. Great video as always mate.
Giannis also in the discussion
@@GirvynF Zion even better in the paint watch year 4 nba is his
He's better than young Bron. I mean at scoring in the paint.
@@vadimslarionovs5422 i agree
Better than young Bron or any Bron attacking the rim the numbers say it all
He has some of the craziest finger rolls I’ve ever seen
just cause he lefty so it looks different
@@ahdexter7688 yeah, otherwise he would look like all the other 285 pound 20 year olds that can jump 4 feet in the air. It’s that left hand
it's old school, what anomaly of a player in our 3p oriented todays game, not only phisically
- Zion is a good finger roller. But the goat? The iceman George Gervin.
@@TheKyubiisaan I don't think dude meant it as a negative. Prob just meant that him being a lefty makes it more unique and harder to defend. Majority of people in society are right handed. It's just like a fighter facing a southpaw.
He's such a great finisher. Not just dunks either, he's one of the best I've seen at finishing with or without contact
Exactly. Completely agree. Its not even the jumping. The combination of his soft touch, ability to create space, and nimbleness/body control is insane. Shaq and LeBron just went through people. Zion is somehow able to slide by and around defenders like he's 200 pounds but still use his frame to discard them to create an angle. It doesn't even look real sometimes. Its like when something happens on 2K that looks fake and on instant reply you realize it glitched and the player teleported. Except this is real
@@michaelahurt Lebron did have some finesse but o agree
Zion is twenty years old and averaging 29 PPG per 36 minutes on 63%eFG. Kid is a monster
Use true shooting percentage instead of eFG either way he’s a damn beast
per 36 min and eFG are trash stats. Kid can ball dou
@@krisdang per 36 is almost the same thing as per 75
He is great, but I am afraid he will get injuries often. It all accumulates over time, his weight and his play style are not the safest ones.
@@step670 injuries are definitely a concern for him
The man is one cheeseburger away from being 300lb and he still moves like Usain Bolt
Usain Brute
Usain Bulk
Usain Buff
Usain Broad
Not on defense...the clips we saw of his defence were pretty pathetic honestly.
Zion, offensively, reminds me of a wrecking ball version of pre-injury Derrick Rose. Very crafty & imaginative in creating ways to get to the basket. And Williamson’s strength unlocks a new dimension in that regard.
Fr dude is DRose plus 100 pounds of mass its unfair
His game is so simple but yet so crafty and underappreciated.
overrated.
I know Giannis is better than him but I prefer Zion’s game more. Zion just seems more effective scoring the ball. Zion has better handles & is quicker than Giannis so it seems he can get to the paint better than Giannis. Zion doesn’t need an outside jumper like a Giannis, it seems he can get in the paint even if they put a wall cause he got that Dwade quickness to his game where he can beat his man to the spot before the defense is set & he has the IQ to split the defense like a Wade.
Zion is also better in the post. Giannis looks awkward when he post up on the block & u can push Giannis from the low post all the way to the elbow cause he’s not super strong when he post up he loses good positioning easily unless there’s a mismatch, most of the time Giannis is at the midpost & elbow taking contested turnarounds & fadaways that are hit or miss. Zion bullies his way in the post like Shaq using that left hand. Zion seems to even prefer posting up more than going off the dribble & to me that’s a more winning style starting & ending your offense in the post, plus Zion is a good passer so him passing out of that post can make him even more effective. Zion flaws are defensively, he needs to be a better defender & rebounder, if he’s better in those two things he can be the best player
@@Chasstful casual
Zion Williamson is a special player. He isn't dunking like people was expecting him to do two years ago (based on his HS and collegiate career), sparing his knees on the process, but his understanding of the game is awesome for this young player. His unique combination of speed, verticality, strength, agility and soft touch around the hoop is refreshing and his playing excessively well when he's in the low/high post (like Sabonis, Jokic & Randle). We'll -- maybe -- see a renaissance of post players in the near future because of Zion!
Great video.
Been waiting for this breakdown! He has been something else to watch this season.
Yes sir, if he works on his jumper and gets sum perimeter scoring going then it's over
the quality of this content is amazing. it's incredible it's free. it's clear you have a passion for this. easily the best basketball TH-cam channel.
Your videos are insightful, you don't just pump out videos w/ click bait titles then point out which play they're running.
keep it up
He's special. I thought he'd be capped finishing in the paint but boy I doubted how strong he was moving bodies
How could you doubt his strength when the nba is full of soft ass pansies
@@AS-fz5dp you must be tripping if you thing nba players are not strong
@@dariusisfamous2840 compared to Zion they are
@@dariusisfamous2840 who plays strong besides giannis bron zion...Ill wait
Not just his strength, it's his quickness, explosiveness and feathery touch that separates him from the rest.
I really hope Zion works hard on his jumper, a Zach randolf/Barkley face up game will take him to the next level
Barkley face up game??? wut? hahahaha. The Barkley rule exist because he was everything but a face up shooter.
Ehhhhhhh I don’t think every player needs to be able to dominate out of the triple threat like that. I think it’s enough that he can shoot wide open shots
Omg that sounds amazing. Pump fakes would kill defenses.
Barkley was the opposite of a face up player
@@TheMissinLink Definitely.
Wow. Haven't really paid attention to basketball in a long time, but seeing this kid is a trip. He's like malfunctioning my brain rn. His power and explosion, he's like Shawn Kemp around the rim and drives to the hole aggressively like Jordan, and he's got handles.. and he's only 20! What will he become holy shit I can't imagine, I'm going to pay attention from now on
It's a shame reading this now
@@ballislife9924 Don't worry he'll be back next year
He has way more finesse and skillful elegant finishing than I expected I thought it would be almost all brute force but he has both. Seems like a really solid point forward. Good for him.
You Really Brought Me Back With The American Gladiator Clip
I laughed really hard after that reference. It was just pure classic gold.
@@dustinbarnes778 I Remember I Used To Watch The Reruns Every Blue Moon With My Pops That Show Is Legendary
He’s like a football player that found out he’s really good at basketball
Well some nba players were great at playing football but focused on basketba soyour comment is a bit of an understatement
It’s crazy Antonio gates is the first player i compared him to 🤣🤣
What I love about Zion’s game is that it’s old school. Zion is a paint monster.
Thanks Zion for making basketball even more fun to watch.
Lonzo is the PERFECT point guard for him. Keep them together!
Definitely
@Davey Lee As an unbiased bulls fan I humbly request that the pelicans front office ignore this man
Lonzo cant even run a pick and roll stfu
A perfect PG for him would be able to shoot really well and do everything Lonzo does so no, not “PeRfEcT”
He would b if he was utilized right
Great breakdown of his strengths and weaknesses. This is a fine example of why this channel is so amazing.
I pray that all these young talents stay healthy for long years. Luka, Zion, Ja, LaMelo, Trae, Ayton. The league gonna be lit in the next few years.
best basketball content on youtube hands down
It’s not even close
yea. his videos are actually insightful, he doesn't just pump out videos that point out the plays (or actions in the play) they're running.
Zion is the most exciting player i ever watched
So refreshing to watch a Zion breakdown where hes not portrayed as the next Magic Johnson as a passer. I cannot stress how much I enjoy these videos. Everything is always contextualized and players weaknesses are openly acknowledged along with their strengths.
it’s crazy how much of a monster he is on the floor, but how graceful he is in mid-air.
thanks for the breakdown. great video, as always.
He truly the future of basketball the basketball gods have accepted him with popcorn sitting in the front row waiting on the Zion show
I noticed Zion when he was a senior in high school and was sold on his talent . I remember having disagreements with people believing he wouldn't do anything in collage let alone the NBA!" He's better than I thought he would be !"
"Hornets rookie guard" in the description threw me for a second
That's just to see who reads the description box. ;)
@@ThinkingBasketball josh okogie
Humility caps all of this off perfectly ✅
Seems like a great dude in addition to all this talent
I hope he keeps wearing humility ~ it looks really good on him
This is the best basketball analysis out right now. We all appreciate your content.
Would have liked to hear a bit about his touch around the rim. those layups are crazy
Bro Layup Package Is Miserably Underrated 🔥
"Zion kind of teleports horizontally"
true
He is my all time most favorite player to have watch. As much as we hear this about certain ball players, this time we really really really really mean this because he is so much different Than anyone that has ever played. True unique talent. It’s the most amazing thing I have ever seen from a player. I hope he finds something what Jordan found. If not better.
here in 2022 to remind myself how good he is
its crazy how much of this buckets are so contested and he still is one of the highest efficiency today, omg
His growth has been rapid that’s for sure.
It has to be stated that SVG is a hell of a coach for being this creative with creating offense for a player. That runway screen is a great example of an adjustment that worked, They run in in different PnRs andpops, they let him bring the ball down, there's so much here I haven't even touched upon. It's a coaching match made in heaven, Fizdale wouldn't have been able to handle this
This aspect of horizontal floating is basically why a MJ was so great which I see in Zion's finishes. MJ just floated past contests which with long arms and touch made it near impossible to stop him on a drive.
That insane leaping ability makes it so hard to stop. Imagine you can jump, watch a dude jump and see him go down quicker than you do. Well this is literal tank coming at you. I think people are not realising enough that if not for injuries, purely based on stats, Zion is a contender for the top 10 of all time at the end of his career.
Hes already recording top 3 all time numbers in scoring, scoring efficiency and all around stat lines.
In his second year with a lot games missed of the previous.
This is with the Pelicans tanking his defensive rebounding numbers by having him leak out into transition instead of allowing him into the paint where he'd utterly dominate the defensive glass and even further validate the Barkley comparisons we are all aware of.
@@toteispoe4 Agree my man. The Pels use the same tactic as the Thunder with Westbrook. The bigs box out and the guard grabs the rebound to make a quick transition easier.
Its basically why you see Hart who is a good rebounder nonetheless average 8 or something or why they are top 5 in defensive rebounding even though both big men dont average 10.
@@Herosennin If Zion isn’t a top 10 player in the league now, how is he a contender for top 10 all time ?
@@NothingElseMattersJM Yea Nash and Kidd became great when they were 28 and 30.
Doesnt mean a lot dude and based on stats hes already a top 5 player.
You do realize the dude is 21 recording numbers in his second year only Wilt and MJ recorded right?
Idk what I’m more impressed by, zions level of play, or your level of research. Phenomenal video!
I'm glad Van Gundy is finally making Zion the focal point of the offense, BI is a bucket but he should not be getting more shots than Zion
hes better than zion rn
@@dboss5808 nah Zion is already better than bi ever was honestly
Zion and Ingram are two completely opposite players, they can both co exist.
@@dboss5808 you dumb Zion took over it’s his team and everyone knows it
@@alkebulanlion6198 regardless of who’s better, neither are good enough (yet) at leading their team to the playoffs. at the moment, both are lacking at shot creation and defense. to me, it doesn’t matter who’s better until the Pels start winning games more consistently.
This is exactly what I *wanted to see* when Zion first entered the league. We need he was a freak athlete but I wanted to see his skill match that or at least compliment it! He really has the potential to be a superstar now!
Zion was already doing this in early 2020 after he came back from the injury, then Covid happened. He looked in real bad shape in the Bubble, but that was 5 months later.
A guard like handle, with explosive first step ideal for small forward and a bulky body of a power forward. Rebounding like a relentless center with buttery smooth layups. The embodiment of the potitionless basketball.
He only grabs 7 boards per game, that is a bit underwhelming.
@@NM-ev7pu Pelicans are an elite rebounding team. He can easily average 10+ rebounds if he just hunted for more defensive rebounds like you see so many guards do these days.
His body is more like a massive center like Shaq in his prime. That is what is scary, the guy is 20 and already has the same frame as prime Shaq.
@@nostalgicbliss5547 Sorry but Shaq is quite a lot taller and was also heavier.
@@NM-ev7pu Shaq was heavier cause he was taller. Shaq at 20 was like 295. Zion is currently around 285-290 at 20 and he is 6 inches shorter than Shaq. Shaq didnt get to like 340 till his LA years.
Man don't talke about deep launch points... How do you think Michael Jordan got the nickname "air?" I remember early in MJ's career when he came down the court with the ball, took off damn near from the 3 point line, stuck both legs out in front like he was sitting in a chair (while in the air), arms raised straight up like a player going for a two handed dunk, but he floated like that almost from the 3 point line...in mid air, and powered down a two hander.
I was like "OMFG!!!!" Was that for real!? Even the broadcaster was talking about how he levitated.
But I'll give Zion "props" for being practically 300 lbs and moving like that.
Top 20 player right now and he's gonna get even better.
The Zion vs Luka era is going to be amazing.
@@JimboCruntz they’re in the same conference why do you guys say this like they’re gonna meet in the finals ?
@@yungace1820 this is such a stupid comment, are you implying MJ and the Pistons were never rivals?
Yung Sage not every rival has to be in separate conferences.
@@JimboCruntz Imagine if you could fusion dance the two into one player... Move over Gotenks and let's bow down to the basketball god Zioncic!
The GOAT debate would wrap up real quick. Haha.
You produce really good basketball content. Keep it up, man. I have changed my mind and am now a Zion believer. I hope he stays healthy.
Everyone saying "tHiS dId NoT aGe WeLl" like Zion's problems this season were predictable and that this video is wrong smh
Zion weight problems and health concerns were actually kinda predicted
great video, including the incredibly rare praise of Enes Kanter's defense at 3:50
I wish this video had talked more about his touch. To me, it's not just how easily he gets to the rim or the ability to finish through contact. He has such a soft touch once he's there. He has so many difficult finishes that bounce a couple times on the rim and drop in.
He legit has the touch of a small guard like Tony Parker. I remember when Parker was in his prime, he would drive into the heart of the defense, surrounded by huge defenders and still find a way to create space and finish with ridiculous touch. Parker also abused the spin moves in the paint, he was so crafty.
Zion legit has a bit of Charles Barkley (power, second jump) Michael Jordan (quick moves and excellent footwork around the basket) Derrick Rose (explosive first step, jumping from odd angles and still finishing with excellent body control), and Tony Parker because of Parker's craftiness and touch around the basket.
He is a phenomenal talent. Just hope he improves his defense, free-throw shooting and at least adds a 12-15 ft jumper. He doesn't need a three-point shot to be the best player in the league and the face of the NBA!
@@nostalgicbliss5547 yeah, Kyrie came to mind for me. But same idea.
This is what I noticed about Zion when he first played those Duke exhibition games in Canada -- he has INCREDIBLE touch around the rim and absolutely zero hesitation when he's attacking. You cannot teach what he has. You can develop it, and especially work on that outside shot, but you can't teach what he has.
The pelicans honestly have a very bright future and have a good plan. I can understand exactly what Griffin and SVG are trying to do with each player and as a team
Best basketball channel on youtube no cap
8:32 that’s some Steph-like gravity just on the interior. Defenses are paying so much attention to Zion but it doesn’t matter
4:38 is also a nice freeze-frame. He's right in the middle of 4 defenders.
How can you doubt about Zanos ??? This man is amazing. I really wish him to stay healthy
It's crazy how Zion is so underrated right now
Yeah. People were disrespecting SVG most this season, ignoring that SVG's ONLY priority for next couple years is developing Zion's offense (not just iso ball but using his teammates, being a threat off-ball, etc.) and slowly work on his defensive awareness, while keeping him happy.
the defence section was spot on, he just looks really awkward with his footwork. really interested to see what his career becomes, he's an exciting player.
If he adopts a Jordanesk work ethic, as opposed to a Shack work ethic, we could see a virtual monster, in the making! Amazing break down of his skill set. It could not have been explained better by anyone. Nor could he have had better representation of his abilities, in any format. Thank You for the great video!
Been waiting on a Zion breakdown 🙏🏾
That could be taken the wrong way
@Gibran Camus Yea I got what you meant but the wording 😳
Thank God the media has decided to focus on LaMelo now, Zion can develop his game without as much scrutiny as before
This dude is special. Reminds me a lot of charles barkley
A finesse one, his layups are softer than some guards out there
Always said that since the start. People were comparing him to Lebron or Shaq but hes really like Barkley.
Naw. Charles was more dynamic and had more mid range scoring, dribble, and post moves then Zion. Zion is more of a Larry Johnson, who also relied heavily on his strength and athletic abilities. If Zion doesn’t LOSE WEIGHT or develop his game more, he’s going to struggle exactly like Larry did later in his career. Is Zion still good if he has to play below the rim? Not really. Man is built like a linebacker. Needs to lose 40lbs and play SF if he wants to avoid injury and be a star longer then 5years
He does remind me of first-year Barkley with his dynamism and willingness to go to the hole, but also Larry Johnson on offense with all that brings, as Big Ugly mentioned. Barkley developed faster, though, adding post moves, fitness and a jumper under Moses' guidance, and Barkley had pretty good defense right away. What Zion seems to have also is support from the owner and coach in NO. All Charles got in Philly was Harold Katz nickel-and-diming away the rest of his quality teammates and coach for cheaper, lousier replacements.
I agree 💯 At 68 games, in terms of experience, Zion is still less than 2 seasons removed from high school. He didn’t really play a full season at Duke either.
If he can keep learning and stay healthy, he’s up there with all the big names.
I been saying since his high school breakout HE WAS DIFFERENT!!! Folks were saying “ he is just big” but weren’t adding he could maintain control of the ball! He was running the floor like a guard. Explosive af like a PF.
We literaly had 2 top5 young performers of all time being drafted in back to back drafts...man the league is so stacked with talent right now, if only refs and sometimes the rules wouldnt drag it down.
Cade coming up 👀
Is the other one Luka?
@@fuckoffstupidyoutub1 who else?
Been thinking a lot about Zion and the type of team that should be put around him.... Eventually, my favourite theoretical structure is along the lines of the Kawhi Raptors with a Villanova flavour.
Having a lead guard like Kyle Lowry makes a lot of sense for a Zion team, as does a shooting guard and small forward tandem of Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. All can dribble (varying degrees), pass (again) and shoot. The C position is still up in the air, but a Marc Gasol type really feels right.
This structure has an incredible defensive presence at the point of attack and anchor the backline so that Zion can be more of the free safety while being surrounded by strong communicators.
Can’t wait to see how he develops, but if I’m the Pels I would look at players that fit that bill. Great video as always.
If Zion gets a consistent jumper or + post game and works on his FTs, the kid is basically going to be Jordanesque with Shaq/Barkley strength & power! League will be on lockdown!!
Now if he can improve on defense and be more aggressive, forget about it!!!... He’ll be compared to Mike!!
The kid’s finesse, athleticism, handles, and touch around the rim reminds me of MJ but with the strength and power of Shaq/Barkley(something about his game is similar to Barkley too, but it just isn’t there yet)!! Watch out!!
He’s next in line!
Btw Ben, analytics isn’t the end all be all. Analytics DOES NOT tell you the WHOLE story.
I told people that Zion Williamson would be legendary and would be a basketball hall of fame player and he is proving that right now
It’s like Charles Barkley and Shawn kemp had a baby
the 2023 version of his analysis will conclude that he is a top 5 player in basketball mark my words
Seeing Zion absolutely torch my Nuggets the past 2 seasons, you can see why they traded for Aaron Gordon.
I’ll never forget when everyone was saying that he was an overrated Blake Griffin and will be shut down by NBA big men. Well, Zion is bullying those NBA big men and he’s already showing that he can do more than just dunk
man is just playing with his physical abilities and a left hand, but already destroying defenses
Imagine an average jumpshot and a right hand as well, like it's the end
Sees a Zion max, immediately returns to this video
Makes me wonder how much damage MJ would do in this era
ALOT
I like how you talked about his defensive weaknesses. He’s obviously an elite player but a lack of defense may halt his game
Loved this, Luka next please :)
I feel like there is a nice comparison between how Zion's high fg% is underrated, and Luka's 3% is underrated. Zion with his 2nd jump catching and putting back a lot of his misses, and Luka's 3 point shot difficulty. Two amazing stats that might show how crazy these two young players are in the league!
Honestly would love a follow up on Luka like this!!! 😊
@@connorlytle4235 Luka probably just isn’t that good of a shooter based on his 74% free throw. I think the bubble season without fans this year is probably inflating his %’s. I’ll change my tune if he has good shooting season from downtown in the future. He’s probably more of a tough shit maker than a good shooter.
These videos are so well done!!! Could watch them for hours!
He’s the best finisher I’ve ever seen.
My love hate relationship with Zion is watching him in awe on the offensive side of the floor, while facepalming as he putters around on the defensive end. Still, my favorite player to watch in the NBA amongst the flood of these 3 and D archetype players.
His first step is Jordan-esque. You're already behind and you don't even know it
And if you’re already behind, you are absolutely getting bodied at the cup.
@@agregs30 and if you’re not getting bodied at the cup he’s gonna truck your a$$ for 2.
please don't compare him to JorDAN
He is special. I feel like he’ll be an all time great player if he stays healthy. He is not even done playing his “rookie szn” and look at what he is doing. The form of his jumpshot looks pretty smooth too, just gotta work on it and he’ll be even better. Those Luka-Zion battles are gonna be exceptional in a few yrs and they are both in the West.
I wanted him to tie Shaqs record of 20+ points on 50% on April fools, on his 69th game no less. (Nice)
Please let him stay healthy.
Barkley was even better, imagine that.
Please let him stay healthy.
@@OjoRojo40 Barkley didn’t average the same points as Zion until 4 year
but in his 2nd year he was all nba 2nd team and averaged 12 rebound seems pretty good to me
@@simonnysted2067 It's hard to score when you don't you know :p
Damn! I've been waiting for this. Watching him is so interesting. No one else really plays like him today. He's like Shaq with Jordan's ability to get to the rim from the perimeter.
He reminds me of Barkley. Using his mass to carve out high percentage shots expect he’s a much better athlete.
Trying to hold back Zion’s drive to the rim is like trying to hold back a wall of water... 🌊
What impresses me the most is his positioning and impeccable timing on his jumps..his second jump to be exact is pretty insane to see for someone his size
Is this an April Fool's joke by not being an April Fool's joke?
Respect for the Star Wars reference in the beginning
It's amazing how he just takes a leisurely stroll through the lane. Imagine if someone actually played defense.
Great work and got hyped with that tease of the next greatest peaks
Imagine Shaq playing in this soft defense era! Damn! Shaq would average 40+ppg
Thank you for this video this guy needed more attention this year
HIs knees are going to implode. I like him, and I want him to succeed, but there is no way he's going to maintain that explosiveness unless he reduces his playing weight. He's 6'7", not 7'1", so he can't expect to just power through double-teams once his speed is gone, and gone it will be when his menisci finally give up. It's too bad, because his game is great, he's got fantastic handles, quickness, and good basketball IQ.
Would love to see a reevaluation of Michael Porter Jr. Dude has been setting the league on fire the past weeks and he’s shooting 45% from 3 on the season at 6’10!! His defense has been fantastic too. He has the body to match up with Durant if they get out of the west
*averages 27ppg as a 20 year old*
"Yeah he will be a low level MVP caliber player if he improves"
lol
Lillard averages 30ppg on excellent efficiency and he is still what would classified as a low level mvp caliber player because terrible efforts.
Imagine what he can do if he would take more mid range jumpers... he would be unstoppable... sag off, splash... press him, drive and dunk.
This video did NOT age well 😂
Zion turned kind of lazy
How did it not age well? It’s a breakdown of the 2021 scoring of Zion. Y’all goofy ass kids just spew the same 5 jokes. Go back to the lunch table.
Incredible attention to detail. Subscribed.