NBA phenom Zion Williamson is ready for next level

James Cooley

Staff Writer

Zion Williamson has been a sensation all through high school and it continued through his college career at Duke University. It was no question that Williamson would be in the NBA one day, but the question was could he be as consistent at the professional stage.

 

Williamson during his Duke University basketball career, under the head coaching of the legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, seemed to be unstoppable due to his speed, strength and skills. Williamson departed Duke averaging 22.6 points 8.9 rebounds 2.1 assists and also winning the 2019 Wooden award.

 

After declaring for the NBA Draft, he was drafted with the first pick to the New Orleans Pelicans and received a deal from Jordan for over $70 million making it the richest annual shoe deal for a rookie in NBA history. Williamson has been advertised as the next superstar in the NBA but the anticipation for his first minute in an NBA game grew more and more as the offseason was beginning to end.

 

During the course of preseason, Williamson averaged 23.3 points 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists and showed great promise. Williamson still had his intense playing style during the games and showed he could still drive with ease and score over anybody.

 

Preseason is only a sneak peak of the NBA season and the play style of players in the regular season is way more intense then the preseason and Williamson will experience elite style play every game he plays in.

 

Williamson would have to show consistency and produce numbers similar to his stats during his college career to prove he is legit and live up to the expectations that have been set upon him since he gained national attention in high school.

 

Alvin Brumfield, a biology major from Hattiesburg Miss., feels that Williamson proved he could play with professional athletes that’s on an elite level.

 

“Zion seemed to me like he didn’t lose a step and played exactly how he played since high school.”

 

Jordan Barrett, a physical education major from Laurel, Miss.,  still wanted to see more from Williamson.

 

“He needs to develop more before he can be considered the next LeBron James but he did good in the games he played so far.”

 

Nevaeh Pittman, an entrepreneur major from Minneapolis Minn., believes his size will eventually catch up to him.

 

“He is really big and moving that fast and I believe if he doesn’t lose any weight his career wouldn’t be that long.”