New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Players for Zion Williamson to Study During Hiatus
With the NBA shutdown, there is nothing for the New Orleans Pelicans to do but homework. Here are five players Zion Williamson should study during the hiatus.
Rookie Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans often gets compared to players like LeBron James and Charles Barkley.
This is largely due to physical characteristics, as Zion’s game doesn’t really resemble either one yet, though he occasionally rumbles into the lane like Sir Charles.
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Zion Williamson’s combination of raw power, leaping ability and touch around the rim puts him in a class all his own, as there have rarely been players so big and strong who could also jump out of the gym, not even Barkley.
Zion is just 19-years-old and his game is still very raw, even though he averaged 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in his 19 games for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Those numbers were the result of sheer physical dominance, as Zion Williamson still doesn’t have a go-to post move, can’t shoot much, lacks passing and doesn’t get on the defensive glass much for a guy his size.
These are not knocks on Zion, as few rookies come into the league with refined skills and when you have his physical abilities, you don’t need them.
As Zion Williamson gets older, he will surely start to develop a more nuanced all-around game that includes being a lead ball handler and elite passing big man.
He’s unlikely to be a great 3-point shooter in the near future, but long-range shooting is another skill that is definitely coming at some point.
There is no limit on how good Zion Williamson can be for the New Orleans Pelicans, especially if he puts in as much time in the film room as he does in the weight room.
Zion and the rest of the New Orleans Pelicans have nothing but time on their hands at the moment, so now is the perfect opportunity to get in some studying.
I’m assigning the rookie some homework that will help add an array of skills to his arsenal. Here are five players Zion Williamson should study during the hiatus.