Zion Williamson’s lack of development of essential skills raises questions ahead of the new season

Author: Monojit Mandal

In the run-up to the new season, all eyes are on Zion Williamson, the standout player for the New Orleans Pelicans. Williamson’s career came under criticism after he missed the entire 2021-22 season and played just 29 games in 2022-23, with rumors claiming that he didn’t focus on developing some parts of his game.

During a discussion on his podcast (27:30 mark), NBA analyst Ric Bucher questioned whether Williamson has devoted time to honing other talents besides his famous ability to dunk and dominate players in the paint (h/t HoopsHype). According to Bucher, people close to the matter noticed Williamson’s lack of interest in perfecting his floater, making layups up and down and creating elbow jumpers.

While concerns about Williamson’s shooting skills haven’t been the main focus of his career so far, his battle to stay healthy and reach the enormous expectations that preceded him as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA lottery has been. Surpassing the 30-game barrier in a single season has been difficult, with the 2020-21 season being the only time he has done so.

However, when he is on the court, Williamson is unstoppable, averaging 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting an incredible 60.5% from the field. If he manages to stay healthy for the upcoming 2023-24 season, nothing short of another exceptional performance would be unexpected.

However, while he may not have the best floater in the league at the moment, Williamson’s influence on the game cannot be underestimated. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Player of the Year after averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game as a freshman at Duke University. He also led Duke to the NCAA championship, where they were defeated by the Virginia Cavaliers.

Williamson made his long-awaited NBA debut on October 22, 2019, scoring an astonishing 22 points in a win against the Houston Rockets, after being selected first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA lottery. In 2020, he was chosen for the NBA’s first rookie team.

Williamson became the fourth youngest NBA player to be selected for an All-Star game in 2021, despite being limited by illness. Despite these difficulties, he remains one of the most dynamic players in the league.

Williamson is known for his explosive agility and ability to dunk over defenders, but he is also an excellent rebounder and passer. As he continues to improve his game, his potential to become one of the best players in the NBA is clear.

The forward, born in Salisbury, North Carolina, on July 6, 2000, attended Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was widely considered a five-star prospect and the best player in the 2018 class. He committed to Duke University to play college basketball.

Williamson, who is 6’10” and weighs 175 pounds, is a rare blend of size and agility, drawing comparisons to Vince Carter and LeBron James for his devastating dunks. In addition to his excellent physical qualities, he has shown the ability to extend his shooting range while maintaining his rebounding and playmaking abilities.