There are player profiles that appear once in a generation or two. Technical talent isn’t the only element that distinguishes legends from the rest of the NBA population, as physical control is just as fundamental as control of the most basic fundamentals. The history of the league has shown that it can be dominated without a big body but with remarkable skills and vice versa, but few have been able to overcome this without fully unlocking the potential of both areas. Here the backbone that connects both departments is the game, since through his total knowledge at one of the two ends of the field he allows access to spaces reserved for the great minds of this sport.
For a long time sion Williamson He had to watch the action and the matches from the stands or the couch at home. Injuries halted what seemed like an unprecedented rise and one that within the NBA still had no answer. His excessive power led him to master painting like no other since Shaquille O’Neal despite the difference in height while progressing in other fields. The return of the New Orleans Pelicans figure this season means a restart of his career in every way. Now, the South Carolina native looks more agile and coordinated, with a different muscle distribution and focus on those key areas for this activity. What hasn’t changed is his attacking impact, picking up where he left off in April 2021. That’s the only way to explain why he was the second-fastest goalscorer 2500 points in 100 matches as a professional afterwards Michael Jordan.
Beyond the obvious loss and the impact of missing all of last season, there is one aspect that has really been affected by his absence. A part of Williamson’s game that Stan Van Gundy has begun to explore since February 2021 that represents the big question to be solved in the future in the short term for the young star
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Shion is a player who arouses an almost morbid interest, since his imposing body acts as a constituent letter and all you have to do is watch a minute best moments to make sure it’s not someone else. However, the Pelicans and Williamson himself know this physical dominance won’t last forever. Sooner or later there will be someone to match or surpass him, or else his impact will diminish as a result of injury or time. As a result, the 22-year-old is slowly tweaking his attacking approach, behaving more like a playmaker rather than an unstoppable goalkeeper. It is what we can call it Zion Point.
And which version is this? Zion Point? Too easy. If one of the most difficult players to stop, as his own testifies 60.3% accuracy on career goals, including 69.6% accuracy around the rim, add in above average passing ability and you have the ultimate player.
And how do the Pelicans put it into practice? By giving him darts in direct blocking and clearance situations so he can make decisions, make mistakes, but also learn:
Knowing how to react, read and make the best decision is something very easy to say and not so easy to do. Especially when it comes to the player the opposing defense will place the most importance on. Someone that his opponents want to avoid stepping in the paint at all costs, so knowing and finding where each of his teammates is is essential.
Zion performs this work admirably.
If you’re one of those people who prefer facts over pieces without much context, Williamson is averaging 4.3 assists per night, the highest of his short career. A statistic that translates to 11.7 points are generated for each pass to a teammate.
But more importantly, he signs 7.8 possible assists, that is a pass that results in an action at the end of the possession (shot, fouled or turnover). To get to the bottom of that number, his record is superior to others like Zach LaVine, Tyler Herro, or Anfernee Simons, who invest heavily in playmaking or are primary long-range operators.
As the star and primary offensive reference for the Pelicans, Zion Williamson receives a large number of double wings, whose frequency increases the closer it is to the basket. This means that if one aspires to become more complete as the playmaker version aims to be must master the pass under pressure. There are cases of other front-line stars who continue to suffer from pitfalls, such as Joel Embiid (1.08 points per possession).
But there are signs that Zion is going to take these moments on a high note:
One of the things that matter most right now about the player development is that the subject of the training, in this case the NBA athlete, accepts, assumes and wants to follow the line set for him by the franchise. In other words, there should be a consensus on the path to be followed in the future.
By that definition, Zion and the Pelicans are on the same page and Williamson wants to become the most complete player the world has ever seen.
“I started out playing this as a point guard, but when I got to the league I realized we had a lot of guards. [en el equipo]so I’m trying to stay in the league and that’s why I’ve adapted to play in different positions.” he said after the recent win over the Raptors. “But I’m trained to be a point guard, so when I see double defenses it’s second nature to me.”
This is the real challenge for Zion Williamson in his second chance to start his sports career. Grow and develop as a playmaker, serving as a 2-foot-1, 130-pound base that can be unstoppable to opposing defenses. Well, in an era like this when the NBA is getting lighter, looking for long and electric profiles, the Pelicans figure represents an archetype as unique as it is unusual, so it’s up to you to become the most defenseless player of your generation.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
