For Zion Williamson, the question hasn’t changed. Williamson proved himself an elite NBA player almost immediately, dominating defenders with his scoring prowess. But Williamson has played just 114 games throughout his first four NBA seasons, missing the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury.
Impossible to Defend
When Zion Williamson plays, New Orleans’ offense is dynamic. Few players can match his offensive output, averaging 25.8 points and 3.6 assists per game on a scorching 64.3% true shooting (12 points above league average). His combination of burst, strength, skill and touch make him impossible to guard as a driver, bending defenses to his will.
Zion has established himself as a historic rim threat already, entering the league and remaining as a legendary slasher. In all three of his full seasons, Zion has led the NBA in rim attempts per 75 possessions by a long way. That extreme volume of rim attempts drives the elite offense, as the Pelicans’ offensive rating has been elite with Zion on the floor throughout his career (116.2).
Few if any NBA defenders answer Zion’s slashing, whether he’s posting up, attacking from the perimeter or coming off of a screen. New Orleans works Zion towards the rim in diverse actions, deploying him as a primary ballhandler, a transition sealer and everything in between. His immense gravity draws as much defensive attention as anyone in the league, opening up passing lanes. Zion’s vision is excellent, dropping down passes and skips to cutters and shooters when defenses collapse.
Adding the Jumper to the Mix
Even without a functional jumper, that combination of slashing, foul drawing and passing is enough for Zion’s offense to be one of the league’s best. Williamson slightly upped his mid-range scoring volume last season to 2.5 per 75 possessions; expanding the pull-up could help ascend Zion to true MVP-level production.
Combining Instincts and Effort on the Defensive End
The defense has always been the shakier end for Zion, his waxing and waning motor proving slightly problematic throughout his career. It’s somewhat understandable given his massive offensive load but Zion can allow penetration a bit too easily at times and his rotational instinct can be a bit slow.
Zion’s defense improved in his abbreviated 2022-23 season, his effort became more consistent. He’s always been a high variance defender as the highs are as high as the lows are low. His ridiculous mix of instincts and explosion beget extreme defensive playmaking value at times, elevating for massive blocks in the half-court and transition.
As far as on-court play, the Pelicans know what they’re getting in Zion Williamson. He’s an all-league superstar with nearly unmatched offensive firepower and he’s only 23. If Williamson can remain healthy, he’ll be the primary piece that leads New Orleans deep into the playoffs.
Written by contributor Ben Pfeifer.
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