In just his second season in the NBA, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has already reached 1,000 career points, making him the second-fastest player to reach the milestone after Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal. The 20-year-old high-flyer only needed 44 games to eclipse the mark, tying Blake Griffin's feat in 2010.
Per Bleacher Report, the former Duke standout reached the 1K club faster than Allen Iverson, Joel Embiid, and even LeBron James.
Williamson achieved the personal milestone against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday. After spinning away from initial defender Justin Holiday, the 6-foot-7 Pelicans star rose high above the rim for a two-handed jam above Myles Turner. It's only fitting that Williamson completed the record with yet another highlight dunk. Here the exact moment Williamson reached the 1K club.
Zion hammer gives him 1,001 career points 🙌pic.twitter.com/wxGH0Z2qdQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 6, 2021
While the NOLA bruiser is nowhere as big as Shaquille O'Neal, the case can be made that his game has shades of the legendary center's dominance in terms of sheer physical strength and athleticism. Zion has been overwhelming defenders since his rookie season last year, so it's no surprise that he achieved the record rather quickly.
After finishing second to Ja Morant in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2019-20, Williamson has upped his numbers across the board, tallying 23.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1,1 steals entering the showdown versus Indy.
It is worth noting that Zion missed some considerable time for the Pelicans last season, and he could have probably reached 1,000 career points even faster had he been healthy to begin his pro career.
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