[ChrispyParticipant]

 I get it. It’s against Ryerson. But still, man oh man. Only the first half, and dude is killing it. His jumper looks much better in that he isn’t jumping as high on his shot, making it more under control and repeatable. Making all the right reads with his passes and blowing the crowd and announcers away. Wow.

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Anyone else see his goaltend?

My oh my…. I couldn’t dream of doing that at 185, and this man can jump like that at 285.

He is truly one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen. Period.

[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Anyone else see his goaltend?

My oh my…. I couldn’t dream of doing that at 185, and this man can jump like that at 285.

He is truly one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen. Period.

[ChrispyParticipant]

 By my count Zion finished with 29 pts, 10 + rebounds, and several assists with only 1 turnover. He shot 3/4 from 3 and 0/1 from FT. He really passed the ball well, often making the extra pass and giving up potential opportunities for himself. He passed ahead really well, setting up some nice secondary break chances. He passed into the heart of the zone nicely, often to RJ  (who struggled in this game despite his point output). He didn’t play much defense (no one on Duke did), but early in the game switched on to some quick guards and was able to contain them. The whole team looked gassed, but it is August and their first real-game situation. All in all I thought he surpassed my already high expectations. Amazing debut.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 He has bust written all over him.

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

 The thing to me is how agile he is for his size. His first step is lightning, he’s a freight train in transition while remaining graceful, and he has fantastic body control while driving and in the air. He moves better than RJ IMO. He showed the jumper but once he gets that on auto he’s going to be a major problem.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Duke coaching staff and trainers don’t feel the weight will effect his game. Watching him play it seems he has a better feel for the game than I thought. Dude could be Special!

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 Sad decision Zion made going to duke. With  all their high recruits their players tend to bust in the NBA. Alas, maybe authoritarian sheseshky has adapted his coaching game.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

Kyrie a Star, Jayson Tatum will be a star…Zion went to Duke and his jumpshot has changed and it’s going in. How is that hurting him??? 

[IlladelphParticipant]

I knew you weren’t going to say Jahlil Okafor.  He was ranked #1 in his high school class.  Dude now has a 2 year contract with the Pels to come off the bench, and only 50K of his contract is guaranteed.  Yipes.  The other Okafor who plays for the Pels also signed a 2 year minimum contract with 100K guaranteed.

But yeah, Zion Williamson is a badass and has surprised with his skill level.  Highly likely to be a great NBA player if he develops like that during the regular season.

 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 I wouldn’t say Jahlil is a bust..the NBA changed on him. 10 years ago he would’ve been a starting center averaging a double-double. And no one can say because he’s a "Duke player" if he wen’t to any other school he would still be 6’10 with slow feet. 

[IlladelphParticipant]

 Um no.  10 years ago, 20 years ago. 1 year ago.  The guy never played any defense, and got out-tenounded by nearly everyone.  He can’t be left on the floor, as he is an enormous defensive liability.  That jas nothing to do woth the NBA of 2018, or 2008, or 1998.  He has no outside shot but he is a decent post scorer.  If he plywd good defense and grabbed a bunch of boards he would be getting 15 mil a year.  But he cannot stay on the floor cause he is a huge defensive liability.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 Zion looked winded early on, but I loved how hard he played. Dived to the floor at least 2 times. 

[ph90702]

I wonder when his profile will have his athleticism as a 10 instead of a 9.

[Andrew1984Participant]

 I love the Rodney Rogers comparison on this site

[JDB12Participant]

 I’ve been saying for awhile, I think he has a lot more basketball skills than people think. I along with a lot of people just assumed he was just a raw talent with crazy bounce. But he has a lot of basketball skill in a bunch of different areas of the game, has a much higher IQ than expected, and is a complete athlete, not just a leaper. Future is getting brighter and brighter for him. Especially if he grows a couple inches.

[The GoatParticipant]

I see a late lottery pick. He’ll need to get far better than this though. There was no blocking out for boards, just winning them in the air. His jumper went down but it missed hard a few times, clearly fatigued. The D was terrible and he just walked into the paint easily. Very hard to judge so early, but I’d like to see his all round game improve as he is undersized for his position and needs skills to fall back on in case he loses his explosiveness. Virtually all guys that have had hops like this (not many ever have), but almost all the ones that have have lost them through injury during their careers. Even MVP Derrick Rose is nowhere near who he was and the rest of his game is pretty good. Zion needs to keep working but he can be an effective pro. See Anthony Mason/Rodney Rogers/Julius Randle.  

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 Draft too weak to be a late lottery pick. He’ll go top 7. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I’ll wait a bit longer to pull up the threads where almost everyone in this forum was saying he would be a bust and is overhyped.

[The GoatParticipant]

I’ll clarify my thoughts here. He can be an effective pro and his game reminds me of Mason, Randle and Rogers, but that doesn’t mean I think he’s going to be a superstar. Just average. So, I guess that means bust. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Not sure what to think yet. It was an impressive performance but he’s playing against vastly inferior competition. He was just so much more athletic than anybody on the other team that it’s hard to get a read on how he would actually play against guys that aren’t just going to get out the way when he drives to the basket. He definitely doesn’t appear to be in top notch condition. Although his weight doesn’t seem to affect his athleticism much, I still believe he needs to tone up some (if anything to avoid injury). Playing that style while carrying that much mass will put a ton of pressure on his joints. His offensive game is still a work in progress. Even though he shot it well, I don’t really expect him to be consistent at this point. He doesn’t really have a ton of break down moves off the dribble yet, and most of his drives just result in him overpowering his defender, which will not work nearly as well when he faces top notch defenders. He has the physical ability to be a strong defender, but will he have the focus and conditioning to make it happen? 

It’s just hard for me to really predict his future right now. If he really dedicates himself, he has the athletic gifts to be a star at the next level, but I also see the potential for him to be a bust as well. Hopefully, once we get into the actual season, we’ll get a little bit better read on how his game will translate.

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 But theres no level of competition that can match up with him physically or athletically. No level in basketball or any sports/athletics. Seems hes the alpha. The fact that he proved he has a consistent basic jumpshot developing, his ballhandling is good and he has good feel/court vision how can you doubt him?

[Willo15Participant]

 I don’t post a lot and I read more of the draft threads and college threads, but I want to know how come nobody has made a big deal about Tyler Herro? Dude has some serious game and I think he will be better then most people predict. Back to Zion though. Dude is a absolute beast. I think he will have a strong beginning of th yr, struggle in conference and find his footing in ACC tourney and NCAA. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 To be fair the board is usually slow after the draft/free agency/summer league period and before training camp. Nobodies really been talking about anyone but the Duke players, Jontay Porter and Nassir Little. Its still early and theres a ton of talent out there especially at the gaurd position. Tyler Herro looks smooth though, reminds me a bit of Devin Booker.

[weballin.netParticipant]

but there are some issues he really needs to adress.

He has shown he can hit the three, but his shooting is streaky and when he will have to shoot from NBA distance, not sure he will be that good.

But the most problematic thing to me is that he has to start driving with his right hand and throw away those high school scoop shots which whill finish in the stands against NBA caliber defenders. I don’t see no hooks, no right hand and despite his world class athleticism, he lacks length and needs to work on efficient moves when he’s around the basket. 

He could have the same issues as Bagley in the summer league with everybody trying to force them to play with their off hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Reptilian MonkParticipant]

 Adam Silver loves Zion. He will promote this guy like crazy. On the road to Zion. Athleticlly this guy is once in a generation special .

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I’ll say it now cause I’m going to say it often throughout the year with lots of people barking at me: Zion will be the 1st pick. I called Embiid on here before his first college game when everyone was talking Wiggins, Parker, and even Randle (many had him going 1st). People scoffed. So, here’s my 2nd big call. Zion. 

Yes, his shot is inconsistent. Yes, he’s way short for a PF. But the shot’s coming around and Draymond Green is way short for a center, but he’s stronger than everybody. Strength counts. Some dudes with loads of muscle aren’t strong (somehow). Zion is exceptionally strong. Strength was overrated for Durant out of college, but when has strength ever not greatly benefited a player? He’ll never be remotely close to a LeBron James (who is?) because he’s not as skilled (never will be), not as smart, and not as good of a shooter, but… LeBron is the only guy in the NBA with as much strength and coordination combined. Worst case scenario: Zion is quite good. 

I don’t think he’s as good as even Ben Simmons as a draft pick, but there will be no one like him. And that’s a huge advantage. 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 why he reminds me Lance Stephenson? 

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