At this point everyone expects that Zion Williamson will be the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. The kid is an absolute show, and everyone talks about him 24/7. Even though he might not be the best player available, there’s no way that a team would pass up on Zion, and here’s why.
Box office
Everyone that has seen Zion play this year was just in awe of the ridiculous athleticism and dunking ability. He looked like a man amongst boys, both physically and in his play, making him the clear favorite for the number one overall pick. Everyone was talking about him. Tickets for Duke games were through the roof.
And look, you might not think that he’s the best player in the draft. I personally think that Ja Morant is a prospect that has a game and skillset that will translate better to the NBA. I will get into that later on.
Let’s get back to Zion. Williamson and his Duke team have been featured almost daily on every major talk show in the country. You would have to go back to LeBron James to see a player that isn’t even in the league yet get this much attention.
That’s why I say that Zion is box office. His shirt sales are going to be way higher than any other rookie next year or even in the past decade. Whatever team drafts him will be on TV way more than they would be with Morant or R.J. Barrett. Ticket prices for the games will see an increase as the demand would be incredible.
You can’t pass up on Zion because you wouldn’t be blamed if you took him. Not saying that that is the best reason to pick someone, but seen as he’s the runaway first overall pick, any GM would get crucified for picking anyone other than Zion if it doesn’t go right. Any owner would definitely want him as Williamson would increase the value of the franchise overnight. That’s how popular he is.
Talent and skill
Now, coming back to the talent thing. The reason I say that Ja Morant, who is projected to be the number 2 overall pick, might have a skillset that will translate better to the NBA is quite simple: We haven’t seen Zion play against grown men yet. He was able to dominate at any level because his body was just massive. At his current weight, the 6’6’’ Williamson would be the second heaviest player in the NBA with his 285 pounds, just behind the 7’6’’ specimen that is Boban Marjanovic.
But whereas high school and college players still need to grow into their body, NBA players have already reached that point. Zion’s body probably won’t grow anymore, even though he’s just 18. That’s one huge advantage that Williamson had over the rest that is now gone.
Gilbert Arenas said on his ‘No Chill Podcast’ that Zion was an incredible phenom with no true skill. Of course, you have to take everything that Arenas says with a grain of salt, but if you look at it, he is kind of right. Williamson has never had to develop any type of skill to be able to dominate, just because he was so huge. He isn’t the best 3-point or free throw shooter; He is undersized for a player at either forward spot and he never had to post up anybody. On the other hand, Zion’s instincts are incredible. The ability to time his rebounds perfectly for put-backs; The timing on his blocks plus his steals and transition game make him great mixed with his athleticism.
If you take Ja Morant, who has had one more year in college as well, you get an entirely different picture. He has incredible athleticism (not on Zion’s level, but still), has looked very mature for his age, has a decent enough three ball that can develop and can read defenses like no one else in the draft. He averaged 24.5 points and 10 assists on 50% shooting and 36% from deep. In a league that is guard oriented it would make sense to go with Morant when he produces those stats.
Morant also has a blueprint laid out for him. There have been a lot of athletic point guards in the league that can produce similar stats. For Zion, you just don’t know what he will develop into. Is he like Shawn Kemp? Is he the second coming of LeBron? Is he a faster and more athletic Julius Randle? You don’t know what you get, and that adds to the intrigue.
By the looks of the article you might think that I say to pick Morant over Zion. I’m not. Zion’s ceiling looks incredibly high and his athleticism and body are something that you can’t teach. He will also be one of the most popular players right away. On the other hand, you would have Morant with a skillset that has been proven to work in the past. You wouldn’t get a one-of-a-kind player with Morant, but more of a safety bet. Zion’s body just doesn’t look human and he certainly is the first player like that we have seen, and it’s not like he is trash with a good body. If you ask me, I’m not passing up on Zion even though I think that Morant might have the better career. Either way, you can’t go wrong with whomever you choose out of these 2 guys.
Courtside 