When Julius Erving arrived on the scene in 1971 with the Virginia Squires of the ABA, his creativity and aerial artistry was unlike any other wing specimen that had previously stepped foot on a professional basketball court. In 1984, Michael Jordan took it up a notch. In 2003, a 6'8 high school marvel provided the first of a newer breed: a unique blend of size, strength and speed. 16 years later, and we finally have the next level to what LeBron James brought in '03.
Just like his otherworldly predecessors, Zion Williamson is the type of basketball athlete we have not seen. Listed at 6 foot 6 and 285 pounds, the 19 year old is a blend of speed, leaping ability, strength and agility that basketball fans have yet to see on an NBA floor. He has come into the league with as much or more hype than what James did, and, despite the inevitable doubters and detractors, he is showing the world that he is every bit worth the hype.
Through the Pelicans' first three preseason games, Williamson has been dominant, leading the team in points in the last two - with 29 points and 26 points, while putting up 16 points and 7 rebounds on 6 of 13 from the field in the opener against the Atlanta Hawks. Against the Chicago Bulls where he scored 29, he was 12 of 13 from the field, and, on Friday against the Utah Jazz, was 9 for 12 for 26 points. Not only has he shown what people expected with his high flying ability - a driving right handed throw down versus Atlanta, along with an effortless 360 against the Bulls - but he has shown the ability to step out and hit three pointers, as well as go off the dribble.
People like to rag on the preseason, and some will downplay what he has done, but the following note - via ESPN Stats and Info - should put some things in perspective. According to ESPN, Williamson was 3 of 4 with 9 points when defended by Jazz center Rudy Gobert, which included a drawn foul. The statistic is worth noting because Gobert has won the last two Defensive Player of the Year awards and is considered one of the top interior defenders in the NBA.
Yes, it is the preseason. And yes, the real games have yet to begin. However, the eye test is the eye test, and what it shows is that Williamson is and will be a force just as we expected.
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