Zion is the next Charles Barkley

[Haymaker]

Thank you. Someone who has watched 90's basketball

Even the Lonzo pairing brings back memories of Payton/Kemp. Those two knew how to bring a crowd to its feet.

[sammichoffate]

He's the next Shawn Kemp.

I see a little Julius Randle in him too, gonna be good watching them play each other this year.

[eliteballer]

Completely different player.

[tpols]

You people are forgeting underrating young Barkley in terms of athleticism. Zion is more acrobatic in his dunks and a better leaper but Barkley was still one of the most athletic players ever.

- Barkley was stronger.
- Barkley at 6'4 and 5/8 ft could stand right under the rim and dunk off one leg at 285 lbs
- Barkley would dunk while jumping off two legs under the rim most of his career. He actually had the strongest legs in the NBA prior to Shaq.
- He could move at near to 300 lbs and touch the square of the backboard and dunk
- Barkley had an outside shot all the way up to 18 ft in his peak and he was the most dangerous post player with McHale and Shaq in his era.
- Barkley averaged 12.9 RPG in his play-off career
- Barkley also had better vision for off post passes, around the back passes and had great hands too

but could he play defense?

[bizil]

I gotta admit for some posters to say they see more Kemp in Zion than Charles, they are looking TOO MUCH at the freak athletic ability shit. Freak athletic ability wise, I totally get the Kemp thing. So I see a mix of the two in Zion.

But his body type is more line with guys like a Barkley. His potential of being a great scorer-passer-rebounder for a PF is more in line with Barkley. Kemp NEVER PROVED he could be a dominant scorer like Barkley and Malone in that era. Let alone an elite passing PF like Barkley.

I can tell that some posters are UNDERRATING Zion's potential all around ability. He potentially could give u the all around numbers of Barkley BUT elite defense to go with it. IF he becomes a superstar, I think that's the type of player he will be. His POTENTIAL OVERALL game in more like Barkley BUT with much better defense. Doesn't mean he will be the next Barkley. HE will be the FIRST ZION! Kemp was more of a true PF. Zion to me seems like he has more POSITIONLESS (in his own way) type of potential in his game.

[DoctorP]

yes. could be very Barkley

[Carbine]

He has a LONG ways to go in the skill department to be like Barkley.

[superduper]

He has a LONG ways to go in the skill department to be like Barkley.

Lol obviously but he has that similar undersized unstoppable in the paint mold.

[DaHeezy]

I gotta admit for some posters to say they see more Kemp in Zion than Charles, they are looking TOO MUCH at the freak athletic ability shit. Freak athletic ability wise, I totally get the Kemp thing. So I see a mix of the two in Zion.

As opposed to your comparison of body type? Because everything else you compare is far from accurate

Again. Your post reeks of ego. You fail to see the distinct difference of a isolation post scorer and a slasher. You lack that knowledge to have any sort of validity in your comparison.

[StrongLurk]

As opposed to your comparison of body type? Because everything else you compare is far from accurate

Again. Your post reeks of ego. You fail to see the distinct difference of a isolation post scorer and a slasher. You lack that knowledge to have any sort of validity in your comparison.

Barkley iso-ing in the midrange/post and backing down defenders for 10-12 seconds before shooting wouldn't be effective in this era anyways. Hell, it's actually not even allowed.

I think Barkley is an all time great, but I also think you are overrating his skill some. He was highly effective in the paint, but a lot of that had to do with his size, power, and athleticism.

[AussieSteve]

but could he play defense?

Yeah. He could.

[Round Mound]

Barkley iso-ing in the midrange/post and backing down defenders for 10-12 seconds before shooting wouldn't be effective in this era anyways. Hell, it's actually not even allowed.

I think Barkley is an all time great, but I also think you are overrating his skill some. He was highly effective in the paint, but a lot of that had to do with his size, power, and athleticism.

Wouldn't be effective? The rules wen't against Barkley and before he was in his 30s he would go passed al PFs Off The Dribble. In today's cant touch any one rules Barkley would feast. His game extended From Inside the Paint To 18 Feet Jumpers. Barkley's agressive style of play would demolish today's defenders. Today's game is the softest game i've seen in the NBA. Barkley was a mix of Shaq and Wade. That's how good he was.

[FultzNationRISE]

He has a LONG ways to go in the skill department to be like Barkley.

True, but Barkley also played 3 years of college ball.

Zion looks like he has a good ceiling for skill development. Some guys like a Deandre Jordan or Dwight Howard you can tell from the start will never be consistent shooters and will need to rely on athleticism.

Zion has room to develop skill and shooting with practice. I could definitely see him with a Charles-esque game (by today’s standards) in a couple years.

[AussieSteve]

Barkley iso-ing in the midrange/post and backing down defenders for 10-12 seconds before shooting wouldn't be effective in this era anyways. Hell, it's actually not even allowed.

I think Barkley is an all time great, but I also think you are overrating his skill some. He was highly effective in the paint, but a lot of that had to do with his size, power, and athleticism.

The thing with Barkley is that his presence in a team elevated otherwise awful teams to top tier offences.

In 1989 and 1990, Philly's offence was 2nd only to the Lakers. Look at their roster and you see that this is completely ridiculous. At the suns he led the #1 offence in the league 3 straight years, even though he was definitely past his best and had lost most of his Philly athleticism.

His effect on his team's offense was so great for 2 reasons
1. because whenever he got the ball anywhere within 15ft of the basket, he drew a near immediate double team. If he didn't, he'd get to the rack. If he did, he'd find the open man.
2. Because he was so great on the offensive boards, and gave his team so many 2nd chance opportunities.

Zion is an athletic freak. He's a more impressive athlete than Barkley was. And he's undersized. And he's very solidly built. That's a very good base for a comparison, but I don't think he will end up being a similar style of player.

[bizil]

The thing with Barkley is that his presence in a team elevated otherwise awful teams to top tier offences.

In 1989 and 1990, Philly's offence was 2nd only to the Lakers. Look at their roster and you see that this is completely ridiculous. At the suns he led the #1 offence in the league 3 straight years, even though he was definitely past his best and had lost most of his Philly athleticism.

His effect on his team's offense was so great for 2 reasons
1. because whenever he got the ball anywhere within 15ft of the basket, he drew a near immediate double team. If he didn't, he'd get to the rack. If he did, he'd find the open man.
2. Because he was so great on the offensive boards, and gave his team so many 2nd chance opportunities.

Zion is an athletic freak. He's a more impressive athlete than Barkley was. And he's undersized. And he's very solidly built. That's a very good base for a comparison, but I don't think he will end up being a similar style of player.

Exactly! For me the comparison is more about both being undersized height wise, their weight coming out of college in that 270-280 range, being freak athletes (Zion evenmore athletic), and the potential for Zion to be a great scoring-passing-rebounding PF like Barkley. However, the way he ACTUALLY puts all that together will be different from Charles in certain respects

BUT the huge difference in defense as well. I think Zion could possibly be like an Anthony Mason type defender. Mase was a brickhouse 6'7 250+ pound defender who could defend all three frontcourt positions effectively. And even some swingmen. I think Zion (if needed) could do the same thing at a heavier size. Athletic ability wise, I see the Kemp and Nique comparisons. U put all that together, u get Zion's potential. Which is a player we've NEVER seen before in the league!