The NBA players Zion Williamson modeled his game after

[insidehoops]

Zion Williamson was asked today which NBA players he modeled his game after:

"None of them, to be honest. Just trying to bring my own style to the game.

[scuzzy]

That's what generational greats do, if you look at the consensus Top 10 they all bring their own signature style

[Turbo Slayer]

Nobody. Why should he try to mimic somebody's else game? He should do what feels natural to him.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Not calling him a liar but that isn't true. For him to have a dribble game he has to see someone else do a move and think that he wants that in his game. There may not be a single player he's emulating like Bryant copied Jordan but all players build on the moves of those that came before them. He's too young to have grown up idolizing Barkley but at some point a coach or coaches either has or will show him some Barkley tape so that he can see how a shorter explosive power player can be effective. And he does have some things to learn, note how Giannis schooled him a few games ago. 99% of opponents will be overwhelmed by his power but the are still a few guys that he's going to have to hit with a little bit of sophistication to his game.

[RRR3]

Not calling him a liar but that isn't true. For him to have a dribble game he has to see someone else do a move and think that he wants that in his game. There may not be a single player he's emulating like Bryant copied Jordan but all players build on the moves of those that came before them. He's too young to have grown up idolizing Barkley but at some point a coach or coaches either has or will show him some Barkley tape so that he can see how a shorter explosive power player can be effective. And he does have some things to learn, note how Giannis schooled him a few games ago. 99% of opponents will be overwhelmed by his power but the are still a few guys that he's going to have to hit with a little bit of sophistication to his game.
Didn't watch that game but he was bullying Steven Adams of all people yesterday. I'm not sure any player is going to be able to contend with him physically. Maybe Dwight, but he's lost a lot of his bulk. LeBron, possibly? Drummond? It's going to be almost impossible to guard him in the post.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Adams is strong but he doesn't have the explosive athleticism of Antetokuonmpo. There will be few players maybe even only Antetokuonmpo at the moment that present that kind of challenge but at 6'8 or whatever Williamson wil have to have a few tricks for the two or three guys that can physically challenge him.

[tontoz]

Adams is strong but he doesn't have the explosive athleticism of Antetokuonmpo. There will be few players maybe even only Antetokuonmpo at the moment that present that kind of challenge but at 6'8 or whatever Williamson wil have to have a few tricks for the two or three guys that can physically challenge him.


Giannis' length is what really bothered him. Barkley has said McHale was the toughest guy he had to play against and it was McHale's length on defense that gave him problems.

I also think there was a mental issue for a 19 yr old being guarded by the MVP. I think Zion might have been a little intimidated which is only natural for a guy who has only played a few games. He missed several bunnies that game.

[BarberSchool]

Rodney Rogers.

[PeroAntic]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.

[LAmbruh]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.

meltdown :lol

[MrFonzworth]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.

You writing a fan fiction novel?

[RRR3]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.
:cry:

[Marchesk]

That's what generational greats do, if you look at the consensus Top 10 they all bring their own signature style

Like how Jordan was inspired by Dr. J and David Thompson? Kobe and Lebron by Jordan?

[scuzzy]

Like how Jordan was inspired by Dr. J and David Thompson? Kobe and Lebron by Jordan?

Modeled their game after is entirely different than inspired by.

Jordan plays nothing like Julius

Lebron plays nothing like Michael


Zion's ability to score and move with handles at his size is like nothing we've seen before

[iamgine]

Not calling him a liar but that isn't true. For him to have a dribble game he has to see someone else do a move and think that he wants that in his game. There may not be a single player he's emulating like Bryant copied Jordan but all players build on the moves of those that came before them. He's too young to have grown up idolizing Barkley but at some point a coach or coaches either has or will show him some Barkley tape so that he can see how a shorter explosive power player can be effective. And he does have some things to learn, note how Giannis schooled him a few games ago. 99% of opponents will be overwhelmed by his power but the are still a few guys that he's going to have to hit with a little bit of sophistication to his game.
Even if he plays exactly like Barkley, that doesn't mean he modeled his game after Barkley. Modeling your game implies a conscious decision to imitate.

[ImKobe]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.


:lol true but he's still the next GOAT.

[Phoenix]

That explains why he doesn't even play like a basketball player, rather a rugby player that has been told he just needs to put the ball in the basket when they give it to him in any way possible, preferably by grabbing the rim as he does because the crowd likes it.

He's already shown good off-ball instincts, passing, deft touch around the rim, doesn't dominate the ball but can drop numbers in the flow of the game. And the team is like +70 with him on the floor. Dude has already displayed a poise well beyond his years and doesn't know shit about the NBA game yet, but sure let's act like he's some unskilled brute out there.

[WolfGang]

I don't know how he plays exactly like Charles Barkley. It's a mirror image. He isn't trying to play like him either, its instinctive.

Zion was genetically engineered as a baby with Sir Charles and Shaq's DNA to make a replacement for Lebron. Like Terry from Batman Beyond.

[pauk]

Not calling him a liar but that isn't true. For him to have a dribble game he has to see someone else do a move and think that he wants that in his game. There may not be a single player he's emulating like Bryant copied Jordan but all players build on the moves of those that came before them. He's too young to have grown up idolizing Barkley but at some point a coach or coaches either has or will show him some Barkley tape so that he can see how a shorter explosive power player can be effective. And he does have some things to learn, note how Giannis schooled him a few games ago. 99% of opponents will be overwhelmed by his power but the are still a few guys that he's going to have to hit with a little bit of sophistication to his game.

This.

Any player has learned/seen something he likes at one point in his life, from somewhere, from someone.... especially if you want to be good / a pro you are basically a huge student of the game, even at NBA level you are learning... even if you dont want to, just by watching tape you are seeing what to do / what not to do, even there seeing a move or something you can/should put into your game (a move u might have but not perfeced)...

It can be anything... even work ethic, diet, inspiration/motivation from someone...

Anything.... even if you dont want, you still have a Coach... its inevitable he will teach you something, how to improve this or that.... and where did he learn that from? Exactly...

So many things you can learn.... even by "mistake" (not really) you will model your game after someone/couple of similar players... i mean every player knows his talent, his size, athleticism and so on, your potential... and SO you cant help but naturally be drawn to similar talents, see what/how THEY do, to give you ideas....

Personally as a shooter, i learned alot from Reggie Miller's bag of tricks, moving without the ball, unfortunately a lost art today, ofcourse ppl still move without the ball but not that creatively like Reggie did, he took that shit to a whole another level.

[Pushxx]

that's what generational greats do, if you look at the consensus top 10 they all bring their own signature style

facts

[PeroAntic]

He's already shown good off-ball instincts, passing, deft touch around the rim, doesn't dominate the ball but can drop numbers in the flow of the game. And the team is like +70 with him on the floor. Dude has already displayed a poise well beyond his years and doesn't know shit about the NBA game yet, but sure let's act like he's some unskilled brute out there.
You can use all the euphemisms and try to find redeeming qualities as much as you want, but Zion is still nothing but a bruiser with zero grace, craft and finesse in his game.

[Phoenix]

You can use all the euphemisms and try to find redeeming qualities as much as you want, but Zion is still nothing but a bruiser with zero grace, craft and finesse in his game.

First let's start with what an euphemism is, because absolutely nothing in my post is one. Saying he's shown good offball instincts isn't one. Saying he has deft touch around the rim isnt one. Saying he doesnt dominate the ball isnt one. Saying he can drop numbers in the flow of the game isnt one. Describing elements or characteristics in his game arent euphemism.

The rest of the post is your usual low quality of shit hot take and didnt expand on anything you said before, other than hes an unskilled brute. Which, you're wrong about.

[iamgine]

This.

Any player has learned/seen something he likes at one point in his life, from somewhere, from someone.... especially if you want to be good / a pro you are basically a huge student of the game, even at NBA level you are learning... even if you dont want to, just by watching tape you are seeing what to do / what not to do, even there seeing a move or something you can/should put into your game (a move u might have but not perfeced)...

It can be anything... even work ethic, diet, inspiration/motivation from someone...

Anything.... even if you dont want, you still have a Coach... its inevitable he will teach you something, how to improve this or that.... and where did he learn that from? Exactly...

So many things you can learn.... even by "mistake" (not really) you will model your game after someone/couple of similar players... i mean every player knows his talent, his size, athleticism and so on, your potential... and SO you cant help but naturally be drawn to similar talents, see what/how THEY do, to give you ideas....

Personally as a shooter, i learned alot from Reggie Miller's bag of tricks, moving without the ball, unfortunately a lost art today, ofcourse ppl still move without the ball but not that creatively like Reggie did, he took that shit to a whole another level.
If your coach taught you how to shoot and he learn that from his coach who learn that from Jerry West, that doesn't mean you modeled your shooting after Jerry West. Modeling your game or shooting or anything after someone has to be a conscious decision. If it's not a conscious decision, that's called being influenced by.

[highwhey]

He plays like what i imagine an Ox would play like if oxes could jump and dribble.

[FKAri]

Adams is strong but he doesn't have the explosive athleticism of Antetokuonmpo. There will be few players maybe even only Antetokuonmpo at the moment that present that kind of challenge but at 6'8 or whatever Williamson wil have to have a few tricks for the two or three guys that can physically challenge him.

Explosive athleticism and strength are two completely different things.