New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Players for Zion Williamson to Study During Hiatus
Arvydas Sabonis: Center, Portland Trail Blazers
What Zion Williamson can learn:
-Passing
-Running the offense from the elbow
-Setting screens, using his big body
If you’ve never heard of Arvydas Sabonis then I highly recommend going to YouTube at some point and watching the highlights, as there has truly never been a player like him.
Sabonis was born behind the Iron Curtain in Lithuania, so spent the bulk of his career playing in Europe and growing his legend.
By the time he finally came to the NBA, he was 31-years-old and injuries had ravaged his giant frame, but Sabonis was still a force because of his unique skill set.
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His lateral movement had suffered greatly (but seriously, go watch this guy when he was young, imagine a 7-foot-4 Dirk Nowitzki) but Sabonis was still great at running the offense from the free throw line.
He would park his large body at the top of the key and let the team move around him, much like a sun with orbiting planets.
He was so wide that he could simultaneously handle the ball, set a screen and then pass to the open cutter. Check out this no-look beauty.
Sabonis had more shooting range than Zion Williamson currently does, but the thing Zion should study is how he uses his body to make space.
The New Orleans Pelicans will undoubtedly run more sets in the future that feature Zion as the primary ball handler and playmaker.
Much like Sabonis, he can use his wide frame to fend off double-teams and look for open cutters. Zion Williamson has a chance to be one of the better passing big men in the game, especially considering he must be respected off the dribble.
Sabonis was a creative passer and playmaker who could make you pay with his passing. If Zion Williamson wants to see fewer double teams, he needs to improve this part of his game.