One of the most anticipated NBA prospects in college is none other than Duke Forward Zion Williamson who has heads turning, Sneakers exploding, posters flying. The question comes to where would Williamson rank if he were in the NBA right now?
Williamson who has played 32 games and is currently in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Championship has posted 22.6 points per game and shooting 68% from the field. Williamson is also shooting 33% from the 3-point line and 64% from the line.
Let’s compare Williamson to the top NBA players at his two position. As of now the player leading the race at the Power Forward position is Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo who is leading the league in Point per game with 27.4 and in field goal percentage with 58% through 69 games. Antetokounmpo is also shooting 24% from the 3-point line and 72% from the line.
Comparing Williamson to the top Small Forward in the league look no further than Oklahoma City Thunder Small Forward Paul George. He leads the league at his position in points per game at 28.2 on top of being on of the better shooters at his position. George is also shooting 40% from the field, 38% from the 3-point line, with 83% from the line.
Comparing Power Forward Antetokounmpo and Williamson looking at the stats there are a few details that need to be addressed, Williamson is only 18 years old and is putting up similar numbers as Antetokounmpo who is 24.
The same goes for Williamson and George with them shooting similar percentages from the field, but have fairly different percentages from other shooting stats. Although this is because the two players play different types of games with George being more of floor general and Williamson who plays more of a scorer and human highlight reel.
Age has a huge factor as to which comes basketball IQ, Strength, Maturity, Skill, Athleticism. Surprisingly Williamson and Antetokounmpo both share in almost all these traits surprisingly with the age gap.
George and Williamson have a 10 year age difference wich if you were to compare film of the two players you could not tell there was an age difference in fundamentals with the two players being on paper almost the same height and size with george standing at 6’9” and 220 lbs.
Two factor that differs in the traits of these two talented players is size and athleticism. Antetokounmpo is 6’11” and 242 lbs while Williamson is 6’7” and 285 lbs.
This becomes a huge factor when it comes to athleticism because Antetokounmpo is has such length he can easily weave and euro-step his way through defenders while on the opposite side Williamson is on the smaller side with less length and uses his explosive raw power to blow by defenders and jump past them at the rim.
Williamson is already a dominant force in college but we won’t know for sure where he stands till he gets into the league until then we have a picture to where how dominant of a player he can be.
