[JDB12Participant]

 While we won’t really see definite positions at Duke due to their talented multi-positional players, consensus has shown that Zion will be a undersized hybrid 3-4 once he gets into the league. However, is there a chance we are oversighting that he might actually be able to be primarily a wing player and then only play the 4 when his team goes small-ball? 

It looks to me like Zion has slimmed down a bit from before his season and even since his foot injury this year. He will always be a thick dude, but he looks as fit as I’ve seen him when I was watching the McDonald’s events. Not to mention he has a pretty decent handle and better lateral quickness than expected so I think he could stay with a lot of the NBA wings. Obviously, he’s one of the more raw talents and often didn’t play great competition in high school. But could you see him playing the 2 and mostly the 3 in the NBA or will he be that hybrid wing-4 most have thought all a long. It will depend on if his body changes as he is still very young, but what are your thoughts?

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Zion commited to Duke because He knows they never see the weightroom lol..

[ChrispyParticipant]

 I have sais it before and will say it again,  Zion is a dude that will always need to check his weight. He is in  the Barkely, Grandmama vein, tweener size but next level athletcism and ball skills. I see him as a Larry Johnson player in total, floor-ceiling and career. 

[Dell87Participant]

 needs to keep his weight at about 235 and really really really practice his handle and junpshot. he is best suited to be a nba sf that can post  opposing sf’s up depending on matchup. his athleticism can make up for lack of footspeed 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I agree he should trim the fat but 235 seems a bit lite considering hes currently at bout 275. 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 At the McDonald’s game they said he was 250, he lost a ton. I saw him and person and he really doesn’t look fat big. 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

Plays alot like Anthony Mason. With Coach K’s help he can become a Larry Johnson type player.

[kikikikiParticipant]

 He does remind of a JR Rider crossed with Larry Johnson!

[whiteflashParticipant]

 The kid has a ton of natural ability, and his physical gifts are off the charts, but his making the league is not a foregone conclusion. Regardless of what his future position is, he’s got to show that he has the requisite skills, because from here on out he won’t be able to just bulldoze his way to the rim and catch his own bad shot for a put back.

He seems like a good kid, and he’s handled all of this attention well, but he has a lot of work to do on his actual game.

 

 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Whiteflash I totally agree wit what u said. And Zion seems to have gotten it. He knows he still has a lot to work on. That’s y he said he chose Duke. Becuz he said coach K is a great teacher.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Hopefully he’s willing to listen, learn and potentially stay for a few years. He’s far from a 1 and done.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

…he doesn’t just bulldoze to the rim. Have you seen any footage from the All American practices and scrimmages?

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Have you seen literally any other game he’s ever played? He almost exclusively bulldozes his way to the rim. Not saying he’s incapable of more, but from game footage, to highlights, to seeing him up close, that’s almost ALL he does.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

He does not. People don’t just let you GET to the rim. You have to have some sort of moves to get there. He’s got a nice handle, moves extremely well for a kid his size, and has great touch around the rim but you don’t notice that do ya? When he plays against competition you see his full repertoire. When he’s playing against weaker comp in the HIGHLIGHTS that you mention, of course he uses his physicality to dominate. THATS WHAT  HE’S SUPPOSED TO DO! Don’t judge a players game off of a highlight of them against lower comp. He displayed more than just “bulldozing” this past week. Also in the EYBL. Also in the Adidas Gauntlet.

[whiteflashParticipant]

 Where did I write that people let him get to the rim? I wrote that he bulldozes his way to the rim, which he does. I’ve seen him in person at AAU events, and that’s at least 90% of his game. I also wrote that he may be capable of more, he just never shows it. As it stands, his game is gonna need major work.

 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 Watch his official senior mixtape. Of course there are a bunch of dunks but there’s also footage of his breaking ankles, hitting step back jumpers, pull ups, etc. He’s nowhere near as one dimensional as you think.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

I totally disagree about Zion being undersized to play PF.  There’s much more to size then just a players standing height.  Zion hardly has a neck and around 260 pounds of muscle on a massive frame with monstrous shoulders supported by tree trunk legs.  He’s built to play in the post.  This is a new era of basketball where 6’7"guys like Draymond Green, Barnes and Melo are starting PF’s in the West that don’t have a fraction of Zions explosiveness.  

Also when it comes to bullying there way to the basket they said Julius Randle couldn’t do it after high school and here he is playing for the Lakers still doing it having a career year.  

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Yeah if you put him next to an awesome center/rim protector like Embiid or Gobert or maybe an "upside" draft pick like Bamba then I think Zion could be a prototype power forward. Strength, length, and athleticism with finishing skills, rebounding, and then all handing skills. In the NBA I think he gets a lot of his buckets Z Bo style, so even if he only hits enough 3’s to keep you honest, a bread and butter post game can pay the bills.

Zion needs to borrow stuff from Sir Charles, LJ, Z Bo, Draymond, and even LeBron James. 

Next year though I would put him at the 5. Make Reddish/Barret play their natural spots and let Zion play bully ball. Heck, they might even wanna make Zion a point center. 

I think I would run pick and rolls with Zion and a rim running stretch 4 then have Barrett, Reddish, and another guard spotting up for 3. Or let Zion be the roll guy. 

I wouldn’t put Zion at the 3, but if he has an open jumper on the perimeter he should take it. 

Probably best off as a power point guard — Duke’s version of LeBron.

[kobyzParticipant]

 What Lebron show in hs that Zion didn’t?

[OhCanada-Participant]

 That is probably your greatest troll comment. Short and sweet. Great job Kobyz keep up the good work.

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

I think he COULD play the wing but he’s also an asset at power forward with his versatility and guard skills. I can’t wait to see him and Julius Randle banging down low and then going one on one on the wing in ISO’s. Julius Randle’s success has given me more confidence in Zion’s ability to be a stud in the NBA. I believe Zion has Randle in every department but height, and Randle is producing at an increasingly higher level than I anticipated after his first couple seasons. I think Zion has a better shot, touch, ball handling, body control etc. and that he may be best used as a power forward unless there was a perfect situation for him to play on the wing. And the closest thing i can think of to that situation would be if he were playing next to a power forward like KAT or Porzingis that has the size to play 5, but thrives at PF.

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Zion does NOT have a better shot OR handle than Randle. AT the very least, it is debatable, and you are uderrating Randle a lot.

 Randle ever since college could dribble with his off-hand like it were his strong hand. Zion’s hadles are pretty spotty right now especially with that left hand. Zion has a better shooting form than Randle but he’s got to show that he can make them consistently and with confidence. Randle’s mid-range shot meanwhile is great and he is beginning to expand his range. As for finishing around the basket, both of them are very uncreative as finishers are usually just rely on athletcism and strength. And if Ranle gets his shot blocked a lot in the pros, I wonder how a under the basket 6’6 PF like Zion would fare.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Zion is undersized for a PF heightwise but if he lost too much weight, I’d be concerned he’d lose any strength advantage he may have. Being a bigger built but slightly smaller in height player gives him a lower centre of gravity so he can outmuscle taller thinner plays when on the ball and his size is useful for screenings, pick and rolls etc.

If he can play SF then he’d have a big power advantage against a lot of guys but the issue could be kepping up with small fast SFs when he was on defence although they could have a big 270lbs guy coming at them when they are on defence.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Zion is undersized for a PF heightwise but if he lost too much weight, I’d be concerned he’d lose any strength advantage he may have. Being a bigger built but slightly smaller in height player gives him a lower centre of gravity so he can outmuscle taller thinner plays when on the ball and his size is useful for screenings, pick and rolls etc.

If he can play SF then he’d have a big power advantage against a lot of guys but the issue could be kepping up with small fast SFs when he was on defence although they could have a big 270lbs guy coming at them when they are on defence.

 

[IlladelphParticipant]

 at Duke he is going to play on the blocks.  He will prob get a bunch of rebounds, score about 10 a game, and avg 1.1-1.4 blocks.  He might even play a bit of center against smaller faster teams.  His elite athleticism will put him on espn enough that he will be a lotto pick next year.

In the NBA he is going to have to play around the basket.  He does not have NBA wing level ball-handling or first step to beat guards and faster SFs.  He must master some go to moves around the basjet and elevate his rebounding and defensive game.  I agree with Draymond/Mason/Barkley/LJ comps but he has a ways to go to get to that level.  OAD guards translate to the NBA a lot more easily than do post players.  A couple of years in college will allow him to develop those skills.  But he is def OAD so I hope he focuses on his weak esses this year and does not just rely on his superior athleticism.  He seems like a smart, humble, kid so I suspect that he will do what he needs to make sure he is prepared for the jump to the NBA.

 

 

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