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Duke University standout Zion Williams is expected to be selected first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Williamson was a dominant force in college basketball this season, but there are still doubts about his ability to do the same thing when he jumps into the big leagues.
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim admitted that Williamson was a nightmare for most college teams because of his strength and athleticism. In 33 games for Duke, he averaged 22.6 points on 68.0 percent shooting from the field to go along with 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.
According to Marc Berman of New York Post, Boeheim said that there is no player who can match up with Williamson in college basketball. However, he pointed out that playing in the NBA is a different story, saying that Williamson will not be able to do some stuff that he did in college.
“There's a lot of size in the NBA, people forget there's a lot of big, strong guys in the NBA,” Boeheim said. “In college, he was by far the strongest, toughest guy to me in college basketball.”
Williamson is being tagged by many as a once-in-a-generation talent like LeBron James before he entered the league. The New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Phoenix Suns have the best odds in the lottery, which would eventually decide Williamson's destination in the NBA.
Even if he doesn't reach his potential as a position-less primary ball handler, like Boeheim suggests, Williamson's finishing ability, feel, motor, and defensive versatility should still make him an immensely valuable player in the modern NBA.
