[go: up one dir, main page]

Jump to content

Zion Williamson

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zion Williamson
Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020
No. 1 – New Orleans Pelicans
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 24)
Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight284 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High schoolSpartanburg Day School
(Spartanburg, South Carolina)
CollegeDuke (2018–2019)
NBA draft2019: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–presentNew Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Zion Lateef Williamson (born July 6, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the power forward position.[1] Following a freshman-year stint with the Duke Blue Devils, Williamson was selected by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020. In 2021, he became the fourth youngest NBA player to be selected to an All-Star game.[2]

Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, Williamson attended Spartanburg Day School, where he was a consensus five-star recruit and was ranked among the top five players in the 2018 class. He led his team to three straight state championships and earned South Carolina Mr. Basketball recognition in his senior season. Williamson also left high school as a McDonald's All-American, runner-up for Mr. Basketball USA, and USA Today All-USA first team honoree. In high school, he drew national attention for his slam dunks.

In his freshman and only season with Duke, Williamson was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Athlete of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year. He set the single-game school scoring record for freshmen in January 2019, claimed ACC Rookie of the Week accolades five times, earned AP Player of the Year, Sporting News College Player of the Year recognition, and won the Wayman Tisdale Award.

Early life

On July 6, 2000,[1] Williamson was born in Salisbury, North Carolina to Lateef Williamson and Sharonda Sampson.[3] Lateef Williamson was a football defensive lineman at Mayo High School in Darlington, South Carolina, who was a High School All-American in 1993 and had committed to NC State before transferring to Livingstone College.[4][3] Sampson was a sprinter at Livingstone and became a middle school health and physical education teacher.[3] She named Williamson after the biblical location Mount Zion near Jerusalem, taking her grandmother's advice to name him "something extra special."[5] When Williamson reached two years of age, following the death of his maternal grandmother, his family moved to Florence, South Carolina.[4][3] By the time he was five years old, his parents had divorced. His mother later married Lee Anderson, a former Clemson college basketball player.[6][4] Williamson is Baptist.[7]

Besides basketball, Williamson played soccer and the quarterback position in football.[5] When he was five years old, he set sights on becoming a college basketball star. At age nine, Williamson began waking up every morning at 5 a.m. to train.[6] He competed in youth leagues with his mother Sharonda Sampson coaching and played for the Sumter Falcons on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit, facing opponents four years older than he was.[4] Williamson later began working with his stepfather to improve his skills as a point guard.[6] He joined the basketball team at Johnakin Middle School in Marion, South Carolina, where he was again coached by his mother and averaged 20 points per game. In middle school, Williamson was a point guard and lost only three games in two years.[6] In 2013, he guided Johnakin to an 8–1 record and a conference title.[8]

High school career

Freshman and sophomore seasons

Williamson attended Spartanburg Day School, a small K–12 private school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he played basketball for the Griffins.[5] Between eighth and ninth grade, he grew from 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) to 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).[4] In the summer leading up to his first season, Williamson practiced in the school gym and developed the ability to dunk.[9] At the time, he competed for the South Carolina Hornets AAU team as well, where he was teammates with Ja Morant.[10] As a freshman, Williamson averaged 24.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.3 steals and 3.0 blocks, earning All-State and All-Region honors.[11] He also led Spartanburg Day to a South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) state championship game appearance.[12] In March 2015, Williamson took part in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game in Sumter, South Carolina.[13] By his second year in high school, he stood 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m).[12] In his sophomore season, Williamson averaged 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 2.7 steals per game and was named SCISA Region I-2A Player of the Year.[14] He led the Griffins to their first SCISA Region I-2A title in program history.[5] In June 2016, Williamson participated in the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp and was its leading scorer.[15] In August, he won the Under Armour Elite 24 showcase dunk contest in New York City.[16]

Junior season

As a junior, Williamson averaged 36.8 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.[17] Starting in the 2016–17 season, Williamson was propelled into the national spotlight for his viral highlight videos.[18] In a 73–53 victory over Gray Collegiate Academy at the Chick-fil-A Classic on December 21, he posted a tournament-record 53 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 25-of-28 from the field.[19] On December 30, Williamson recorded 31 points and 14 rebounds to win most valuable player (MVP) at the Farm Bureau Insurance Classic.[20] On January 15, 2017, he received nationwide publicity after rapper Drake wore his jersey in an Instagram post.[21]

Williamson surpassed the 2,000-point barrier on January 20, when he tallied 48 points against Oakbrook Preparatory School.[22] On February 14, he led Spartanburg Day past Oakbrook Prep for their first SCISA Region I-2A title, chipping in a game-high 37 points in a 105–49 rout. Williamson broke the state record for most 30-point games in a season, with 27 by the end of the regular season.[23] He repeated as SCISA Region I-2A Player of the Year.[17] High school sports website MaxPreps named him National Junior of the Year and to the High School All-American first team, while USA Today High School Sports gave him All-USA first team recognition.[24][25][26] In June, he appeared on the cover of basketball magazine Slam.[27]

Senior season

In his senior season, Williamson averaged 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.[28] On January 13, 2018, in a nationally televised game at the Hoophall Classic, he scored 36 points as his team lost to Chino Hills High School.[29] On February 17, he posted 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals, while scoring his 3,000th career point, versus Spartanburg Christian Academy at the SCISA Region I-2A tournament.[30] One week later, Williamson guided Spartanburg Day to its third consecutive SCISA Region I-2A championship after recording 38 points against Trinity Collegiate School.[31]

On March 28, Williamson played in the 2018 McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 8 points in 17 minutes before leaving with a thumb injury.[32][33] The injury also forced him to miss the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit in the following month.[34] For his 2017–18 high school season, Williamson was named to the USA Today All-USA first team and MaxPreps All-American second team.[35][36] He additionally earned South Carolina Mr. Basketball recognition and was runner-up for Mr. Basketball USA.[37][38]

Recruiting

Wofford offered Williamson his first college basketball scholarship when he was a freshman in high school.[39] By the end of his sophomore season, he had received offers from 16 NCAA Division I programs, including Clemson, Florida, and South Carolina.[14] On August 30, 2016, he received a scholarship offer from Duke.[40] Entering his junior season, he was a consensus five-star recruit and was ranked the number one player in the 2018 class by recruiting service 247Sports.[41]

In a live ESPN telecast on January 20, 2018, Williamson committed to Duke.[42][43] He explained the decision, stating: "Duke stood out because the brotherhood represents a family. (Mike Krzyzewski) is just the most legendary coach that ever coached college basketball. I feel like going to Duke University, I can learn a lot from him."[43] Duke, who had landed RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish in addition to Williamson, became the first team to land the top three recruits in a class since modern recruiting rankings began.[44] Williamson's stepfather, Lee Anderson, remarked that Clemson lost a "mile-and-a-half lead" in recruiting Williamson.[45]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Zion Williamson
PF
Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Day School (SC) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 272 lb (123 kg) Jan 20, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 5  247Sports: 7  ESPN: 2
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Duke 2018 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  • "2018 Duke Blue Devils Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.

College career

Williamson with Duke in December 2018

On November 6, 2018, in his first regular season game with Duke, Williamson scored 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting in 23 minutes in a 118–84 win over Kentucky at the Champions Classic.[46] In that game, he and teammate RJ Barrett each broke the Duke freshman debut scoring record set by Marvin Bagley III.[47] In his following game, a 94–72 victory over Army, Williamson tallied 27 points, 16 rebounds, and six blocks.[48] He became the second player in school history to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game.[49] Williamson was subsequently named both player and freshman of the week in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[49]

On January 5, 2019, he had another strong performance versus Clemson, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and a 360-degree dunk in 22 minutes.[50] Two days later, Williamson earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors for a second time.[51] On January 12, against Florida State, he was poked in the left eye by an opposing player towards the second half and missed the remainder of the game.[52] Williamson returned in Duke's next game, a 95–91 overtime loss to Syracuse, and erupted for 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks.[53] He eclipsed the Duke freshman record for single-game points previously held by Marvin Bagley III and JJ Redick.[54] On January 21, Williamson collected his third ACC Freshman of the Week accolade.[55] One week later, he scored 26 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in an 81–63 victory over Notre Dame.[56] By recording nine 25-point games in the season, Williamson set a new Duke freshman record.[57] On February 4, 2019, Williamson was named ACC Freshman of the Week on his fourth occasion, while earning a National Player of the Week distinction from the Naismith Trophy.[58] He had his third 30-point game of the season on February 16, scoring 32 points in a 94–78 victory over NC State.[59] The performance helped him claim his second ACC Player of the Week and fifth ACC Freshman of the Week accolades.[60]

Williamson out with knee injury in February 2019
Williamson sits on the bench during a game versus Virginia Tech with an injury suffered from a broken shoe. He walks on the court during a media timeout.

In a February 20 game versus North Carolina, Williamson suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain 36 seconds into the contest after his foot ripped through his Nike shoe, causing him to slip.[61][62] He did not return to the game, which Duke lost, 88–72.[63] Nike saw the value of its stock drop by $1.1 billion the following day as a result of the incident.[64][65] The injury resulted in criticism of the NCAA for not paying student-athletes.[66][67][68] Williamson was held out from the final six games of the regular season.[69] When the regular season concluded, Williamson earned Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the ACC, joining former Duke players Jahlil Okafor and Marvin Bagley III as the only recipients of both awards. Williamson was also named ACC Athlete of the Year, becoming the 10th Duke player to win the Award.[70] He additionally made the ACC All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams.[71] Sporting News named Williamson as its Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.[72]

Williamson returned from injury on March 14, posting 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals in an 84–72 win over Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.[73] He shot 13-of-13 from the field, marking the best shooting performance in school and tournament history, while tying the record for the best shooting performance in ACC history.[74] Williamson also became the first Duke player to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game since Christian Laettner did so in 1992.[75] The next day, he scored 31 points (including the game-winning shot) to help Duke defeat North Carolina, 74–73, in the ACC Tournament semifinals.[76] After posting 21 points in a 73–63 victory over Florida State in the championship game, Williamson was named ACC Tournament MVP, becoming the sixth freshman to win the honor.[77]

For the 2019 NCAA tournament, official broadcast partner CBS specifically devoted a camera—called the "Zion Cam"—to record Williamson throughout the tournament.[78] In his NCAA Tournament debut on March 22, he scored 25 points in an 85–62 win over 16th-seeded North Dakota State.[79] On March 24, Williamson erupted for 32 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in a 77–76 second-round victory over UCF.[80] Williamson led all scorers on March 31, with 24 points and 14 rebounds in a season-ending 68–67 loss to Michigan State in the Elite 8.[81] In 33 appearances in his freshman season, he averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.[82] He shot 68% from the field, which led the ACC, ranked second in the NCAA Division I, and was the highest-ever field goal percentage by a freshman.[83][84] In addition, Williamson joined Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as one of the only freshmen in history to collect 500 points, 50 steals, and 50 blocks in a season.[84]

On April 15, 2019, Williamson declared his eligibility for the 2019 NBA draft.[85]

Professional career

New Orleans Pelicans (2019–present)

2019–20 season: All-Rookie honors

On June 20, 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Williamson with the first pick in the 2019 NBA draft.[86][87][88] On July 1, 2019, Williamson officially signed with the Pelicans.[89] Williamson tore his meniscus on October 13, 2019, during the preseason of his rookie campaign.[90] Williamson made his professional debut three months later on January 22, 2020, in a 121–117 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He played 18 minutes and finished with 22 points and 7 rebounds, scoring 17 consecutive points in 3:08 minutes during the fourth quarter.[91]

In his first eight games, Williamson scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games, the longest streak by any rookie of the season; he also tied the longest streak in the Pelicans franchise history, scoring at least 20 points in six of his eight games, and tying the record for the seventh-most among all rookies (fellow rookie Ja Morant had the most with 19) after a 125–119 win over the Chicago Bulls on February 7.[92] On February 24, he led the Pelicans to a 115–101 win over the Golden State Warriors. With 28 points on 13/20 shooting in a season-high 33 minutes of play, Williamson was just one game behind Carmelo Anthony for most consecutive 20-point games as a teenager at 8.[93] He would later become the first teenager in NBA history to score at least 20 points in 10 consecutive games.[94] On March 1, Williamson scored then career-high 35 points, along with 7 rebounds, in a 122–114 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.[95]

Williamson finished his rookie season averaging 22.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He ranked first among all rookies in points per game, second in rebounds per game and first in offensive rebounds per game. He became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to post 16 20-point games within their first 20 contests while also logging the highest scoring average through his first 24 career NBA games since Jordan in 1983.[96] On September 15, Williamson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[96][97][98]

2020–21 season: First All-Star selection

On February 12, 2021, Williamson scored a then career high 36 points in a 143–130 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks; he finished the game on 14-of-15 shooting from the field, making him the youngest player in NBA history with 30 points on 90 percent shooting.[99] On February 23, 2021, Williamson was selected into his first NBA All-Star Game.[2] On March 21, 2021, Williamson scored 30 points and 6 rebounds in a 113–108 win over the Denver Nuggets.[100]

During the season, Williamson tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for the longest streak of at least 20-point games on 50-percent shooting within his first two seasons since the shot clock era in 1954–55. The streak eventually grew to 25 consecutive games, surpassing Hall-of-Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Karl Malone[101][102] while tying Shaquille O'Neal's record of 25 consecutive such games,[103] with no other player having had a longer streak since the three-point era in 1980; his streak of 20-points games on 50-percent shooting and attempt to surpass O'Neal's record ended in a 139–111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on April 7.[104]

2021–22 season: Surgery and year absence

During the off-season, Williamson suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot and underwent a subsequent surgery. In late-September, team officials were hopeful that he would be ready to return by the start of the season.[105] By mid-October, the timeline for his expected return was extended until December.[106] In mid-December, it was announced that the injury was slow to heal and he would most likely be out another four to six weeks with a possible return to action around the all-star break.[107] In mid-March, it was announced that Williamson would not play that season.[108]

2022–23 season: Contract extension and season-ending injury

On July 6, 2022, Williamson signed a five-year rookie extension with the New Orleans Pelicans worth $193 million guaranteed, increasing to $231 million if he made an All-NBA team in the 2022–2023 season.[109] Williamson made his return from injury on October 4, 2022, putting up 13 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal in a 129–125 preseason win over the Chicago Bulls.[110]

On October 19, Williamson made his regular season return, putting up 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and four steals in a 130–108 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[111] On December 2, Williamson scored 30 points and matched career highs with 15 rebounds and eight assists in an 117–99 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[112] On December 9, Zion put up a then season-high 35 points, along with seven rebounds, four steals, and one block in a 126–117 win against the Phoenix Suns. A final dunk he made in the last seconds of the game caused an altercation between the Pelicans and Suns.[113] On December 12, Williamson was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 8 (December 5–11), his first NBA Player of the Week award. He led New Orleans to an undefeated 3–0 week with averages of 33.0 points and 8.3 rebounds on 70.4% shooting from the field.[114] On December 28, Williamson put up a career-high 43 points in a 119–118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[115] Williamson was sidelined on January 2, 2023, with a hamstring injury. At first, team officials were hopeful that he would be ready to return by the end of January.[116] On January 26, 2023, Williamson was selected for his second NBA All-Star appearance.[117] However, due to his unavailability, Williamson was replaced by Anthony Edwards.[118] On February 13, team officials indicated that Williamson would miss multiple weeks after the All-Star break.[119] Subsequently, team officials confirmed in early April that Williamson would miss the remainder of the regular season.[120] Subsequently, Williamson sat out the Pelicans appearance in their play-in game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which New Orleans lost, ending their season.[121]

2023–24 season: Return from injury

On November 29, 2023, Wiliamson recorded 33 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the field, 11-of-12 from the free throw line along with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in a 124–114 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.[122] On February 2, 2024, Williamson put up 33 points, eight rebounds, and a game-winning layup in a 114–113 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[123] On April 16, Wiliamson in his first play-in appearance scored 40 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 5 assists in a 110–106 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. His NBA postseason debut was cut short by an injury in the final minutes of the game.[124]

Player profile

Williamson goes in for a slam dunk against Hartford, December 2018

Williamson is listed at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall and weighs 284 pounds (129 kg).[125][126] Despite his heavy weight for a basketball player, he is known for his speed and leaping ability.[127][128] NBA player Kevin Durant described him as a "once-in-a-generation type athlete" while an anonymous college basketball coach labeled him a "freak of nature."[129][130] Williamson plays the power forward position but is also capable of being a small-ball center.[131] He has been described as not fitting a specific basketball position.[132] His physical attributes have drawn comparisons to former NBA stars Charles Barkley, Anthony Mason, and Larry Johnson.[133][134] In addition, according to different analysts, he resembles NBA players LeBron James and Julius Randle.[132] Lee Sartor, Williamson's high school coach, reported that basketball coach Roy Williams told Williamson "that he was probably one of the best high school players he's seen since Michael Jordan."[135] Williamson, who is left-handed, is almost ambidextrous.[132]

While in high school, Williamson drew national attention for his slam dunks.[136] The Charlotte Observer remarked that he "could be the best high-school dunker in history."[137] NBA point guard John Wall has likened Williamson's in-game dunking ability to that of Vince Carter.[138] Williamson's outside shooting has been considered a point of concern, and he has unorthodox shot mechanics.[4][9][139] Recruiting service 247Sports has praised his ball handling and passing skills for his size, commenting that they are "overshadowed by [his] athletic plays."[140] Williamson has the ability to defend multiple positions well due to his speed and length, although his defensive effort has been questioned.[141] He is a skilled shot-blocker and rebounder.[142]

At various points during his NBA career, Williamson has received criticism in the media from basketball observers who perceive him to be overweight.[143][144][145][146] Prior to the start of the 2021–2022 season, Williamson's weight increased to over 300 lbs.[145] Williamson lost weight in 2022.[147] In 2023, however, retired basketball players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal each expressed concerns about Williamson's weight.[148][149] Williamson's 2022 contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans provides for salary reductions in the event that Williamson fails to maintain his weight and body fat percentage at specified levels.[150]

Since the inaugural In-Season Tournament during the 2023 season, Williamson has seen significant improvements to his physique, losing 25 lbs.[151]

Endorsements

On July 23, 2019, Williamson signed a five-year, $75 million shoe deal with Jordan brand.[152] Williamson's deal is the second-largest rookie shoe deal in history, trailing only LeBron James's $90 million rookie deal signed in 2003.[153]

Charitable endeavors

On March 13, 2020, Williamson pledged to pay for the salaries of all the employees of the Smoothie King Center for 30 days during the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was one of several basketball players to help the arena workers.[154]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 New Orleans 24 24 27.8 .583 .429 .640 6.3 2.1 .7 .4 22.5
2020–21 New Orleans 61 61 33.2 .611 .294 .698 7.2 3.7 .9 .6 27.0
2022–23 New Orleans 29 29 33.0 .608 .368 .714 7.0 4.6 1.1 .6 26.0
2023–24 New Orleans 70 70 31.5 .570 .333 .702 5.8 5.0 1.1 .7 22.9
Career 184 184 31.8 .592 .341 .695 6.5 4.1 1.0 .6 24.7
All-Star 1 1 14.4 .556 1.0 .0 .0 .0 10.0

Play-in

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024 New Orleans 1 1 36.5 .630 .000 .667 11.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 40.0
Career 1 1 36.5 .630 .000 .667 11.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 40.0

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Duke 33 33 30.0 .680 .338 .640 8.9 2.1 2.1 1.8 22.6

Personal life

In June 2023, Williamson announced his girlfriend's pregnancy in a baby shower YouTube video with the couple expecting a daughter due in November.[155] This announcement led adult film star Moriah Mills to claim on Twitter that she had a recent affair with Williamson.[156]

References

  1. ^ a b "Zion Williamson". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Zion Williamson selected to 2021 NBA All-Star Game". NBA.com. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Wertz, Langston Jr. (November 5, 2016). "One of nation's top basketball recruits resides in Spartanburg, says Coach K offered scholarship". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Fowler, Scott (February 16, 2017). "The legend of basketball phenom Zion Williamson". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Bezjak, Lou (October 1, 2016). "Williamson drawing attention as one of 2018's finest". The State. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Jordan, Jason (December 23, 2016). "Chick-fil-A Classic: Zion Williamson is taking the country by storm". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Zion Williamson's injury won't sideline him from community: How a church visit shows Pelicans star's connection to New Orleans". The Sporting News. March 23, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  8. ^ Mcfadden, Naeem (February 20, 2013). "Middle school basketball teams capture conference championships". The Morning News. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Babb, Kent (April 8, 2017). "Zion Williamson, 16, might be the best dunker on the Internet. And what else?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  10. ^ Norlander, Matt (January 23, 2019). "The real story of Ja Morant and Zion Williamson playing on the same AAU team". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "2015 Boys Basketball All-Area Team". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. April 5, 2015. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Figman, Adam (June 6, 2017). "Generation Z". Slam. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Eight area players ready for SCISA North-South All-Star games". The Morning News. March 6, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Melton, Kevin (May 3, 2016). "Zion Williamson picks up offer from South Carolina". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  15. ^ Meyer, Jerry (June 17, 2016). "Zion Williamson leading NBA Top 100 Camp in scoring". 247Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  16. ^ Resetar, Max (August 20, 2016). "Zion Williamson Wins the 2016 Elite 24 Dunk Contest". Slam. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  17. ^ a b Melton, Kevin (April 22, 2017). "Slam Dunk: Zion Williamson repeats as Player of the Year". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  18. ^ Jordan, Jason (January 24, 2017). "Zion Williamson's newfound fame has grown his social media following substantially". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  19. ^ Melton, Kevin (December 21, 2016). "Spartanburg Day's Zion Williamson has record night in tourney opener". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Melton, Kevin (December 30, 2016). "Newton tops Spartanburg Day; Zion Williamson named MVP". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  21. ^ Jordan, Jason (January 15, 2017). "Zion Williamson's No. 1 fan Drake sports his high school jersey". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  22. ^ Wellman, Webb (January 20, 2017). "Zion Williamson 48 Points & Dunks On Everyone But The Coach". Ballislife. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  23. ^ FitzPatrick, Joel (February 14, 2017). "Zion Williamson sets state record in rout". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "2016–17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Junior All-American Team". MaxPreps. April 11, 2017. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  25. ^ "2016–17 MaxPreps High School Boys Basketball All-American Team". MaxPreps. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  26. ^ Halley, Jim (March 28, 2017). "ALL-USA Boys Basketball First Team: Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day (S.C.)". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  27. ^ Figman, Adam (June 6, 2017). "Zion Williamson Covers SLAM 210". Slam. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  28. ^ Halley, Jim (April 4, 2018). "ALL-USA Boys Basketball First Team: Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  29. ^ Johnson, Chris (January 20, 2018). "Viral Sensation Zion Williamson Picks Duke as Blue Devils Solidify Loaded 2018 Class". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  30. ^ Landreth, Rob (February 17, 2018). "Zion Williamson gets 3,000th career point to open SCISA tourney". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  31. ^ Boardwine, Andrew (February 24, 2018). "Spartanburg Day, Zion Williamson, down Trinity-Byrnes in SCISA 2A title". The Morning News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  32. ^ "Official Basketball Box Score – Game Totals – Final Statistics" (PDF). McDonald's All-American Game. March 28, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  33. ^ Boone, Kyle (March 29, 2018). "Zion Williamson injury: Five-star Duke commit injures hand in McDonald's All-American Game". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  34. ^ Zagoria, Adam (April 7, 2018). "Zion Williamson Sidelined For Jordan Brand Classic & Nike Hoop Summit". FloHoops. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  35. ^ Divens, Jordan (April 10, 2018). "2017–18 MaxPreps High School Boys Basketball All-American Team". MaxPreps. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  36. ^ Halley, Jim (April 4, 2018). "ALL-USA Boys Basketball First Team: Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  37. ^ Flores, Ronnie (April 25, 2018). "All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Honorees". Grassroots Hoops. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  38. ^ Wertz, Langston Jr. (March 31, 2018). "UNC, Duke recruits named Mr. Basketball in North, South Carolina". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  39. ^ Fowler, Scott (February 16, 2017). "Basketball star Zion Williamson: 'Wide open' on recruiting, including ... Wofford?". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  40. ^ Rowe, Adam (August 30, 2016). "Duke offers 247Sports' #1 player in 2018, SF Zion Williamson". 247Sports. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  41. ^ "Zion Williamson takes over top spot in 247Sports' 2018 basketball player rankings". USA Today High School Sports. August 5, 2016. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  42. ^ Borzello, Jeff (January 21, 2018). "Zion Williamson pledge gives Duke top three players in ESPN 100". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  43. ^ a b Pope IV, Jonas (January 20, 2018). "Zion Williamson: 'I will be joining the brotherhood of Duke University'". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  44. ^ Roberts, Ben (January 22, 2018). "Duke has the top three basketball recruits in the country. Has that ever happened?". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  45. ^ Connolly, Matt (January 22, 2018). "How could Clemson lose 'a mile-and-a-half lead' for Zion Williamson?". The State. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  46. ^ Doyel, Gregg (November 7, 2018). "Meet Duke phenom Zion Williamson, the most unique college basketball player I've ever seen". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  47. ^ "No. 4 Duke Topples No. 2 Kentucky 118–84". Duke Athletics. November 7, 2018. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  48. ^ Rollins, Khadrice (November 11, 2018). "Zion Williamson's Almost-Perfect First Half Propels Duke to 22-Point Win Over Army". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  49. ^ a b "ACC Announces Weekly Basketball Honors". Atlantic Coast Conference. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  50. ^ "Williamson Leads No. 1 Duke Past Clemson 87–68". Duke Athletics. January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  51. ^ "Virginia's Guy, Duke's Williamson recognized". Atlantic Coast Conference. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  52. ^ Wiseman, Steve (January 12, 2019). "Duke star Zion Williamson poked in left eye, suffers double vision". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  53. ^ Goldberg, Rob (January 14, 2019). "Tyus Battle's 32 Lead Syracuse to Shocking Upset Win over Zion Williamson, Duke". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  54. ^ "Duke University Men's Basketball Postgame Notes January 14, 2019 – vs. Syracuse" (PDF). Duke Athletics. January 14, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  55. ^ "Williamson Grabs Third ACC Freshman of the Week Honor". Duke Athletics. January 21, 2019. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  56. ^ "Zion Williamson leaves an impression on Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  57. ^ "Duke University Men's Basketball Postgame Notes January 28, 2019 – vs. Notre Dame" (PDF). Duke Athletics. January 28, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  58. ^ "Williamson Named National Player, ACC Freshman of the Week". Duke Athletics. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  59. ^ "Barrett has triple-double, No. 2 Duke beats NC State, 94-78". ESPN. Associated Press. February 16, 2019. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  60. ^ "Duke's Williamson sweeps ACC weekly honors". Atlantic Coast Conference. February 18, 2019. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  61. ^ "Zion Williamson felled by faulty Nike as North Carolina blast top-ranked Duke". The Guardian. February 21, 2019. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  62. ^ Gleeson, Scott (February 21, 2019). "Duke star Zion Williamson considered 'day-to-day' with a knee sprain". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  63. ^ "With Zion injured, No. 8 UNC routs No. 1 Duke 88-72". ESPN. Associated Press. February 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  64. ^ Drury, Colin (February 22, 2019). "Nike stock market value plunges by $1.1bn after basketball star Zion Williamson's shoe breaks". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  65. ^ Alexander, Chip (February 21, 2019). "Zion Williamson's shoe blowout, knee injury leads to blowback for Nike". Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  66. ^ Sullivan, Tim (February 21, 2019). "Zion Williamson's injury underscores the inequities of college sports". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  67. ^ Gregory, Sean (February 21, 2019). "Zion Williamson's Exploding Shoe Is a Reminder That College Basketball Needs Serious Fixing". Time. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  68. ^ Skinner, Nancy (February 26, 2019). "How to pay NCAA athletes like Zion Williamson without costing colleges a dime". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  69. ^ "Zion Williamson Caps Stunning Return, Leading Duke to A.C.C. Title". The New York Times. March 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  70. ^ "Williamson Voted ACC Male Athlete of the Year". GoDuke.com. Duke Blue Devils. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  71. ^ "ACC 2019 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team, Postseason Awards". TheACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  72. ^ DeCourcy, Mike (March 13, 2019). "Duke's Zion Williamson is Sporting News Player, Freshman of the Year". Sporting News. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  73. ^ Tracy, Marc (March 14, 2019). "Zion Williamson Returns in Style, Leading Duke to Victory Over Syracuse". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  74. ^ "Duke University Men's Basketball Postgame Notes March 14, 2019 – vs. Syracuse (ACC Tournament Quarterfinals)" (PDF). Duke Athletics. March 14, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  75. ^ Parrish, Gary (March 15, 2019). "Duke remains No. 5 in Top 25 And 1 after Zion Williamson's incredible return". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  76. ^ Jones, Jonathan (March 16, 2019). "Zion Williamson Puts on a Show in Classic Duke-UNC Rivalry Game". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  77. ^ "Duke Beats FSU for Program's 21st ACC Title". Associated Press. March 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  78. ^ Lauletta, Tyler (March 22, 2019). "CBS hired a special cameraman to work the 'Zion Cam' and record every move the Duke star makes in his NCAA tournament run". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  79. ^ "Top-Seeded Duke Beats NDSU, 85-62, in NCAA Opener". Associated Press. March 22, 2019. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  80. ^ "Duke University Men's Basketball Postgame Notes March 24, 2019 – vs. UCF" (PDF). Duke Athletics. March 24, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  81. ^ "Duke Falls to Michigan State, 68-67". Associated Press. March 31, 2019. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  82. ^ "Zion Williamson Stats". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  83. ^ "Zion Williamson Named NABC Player, Freshman of the Year". Duke Report. April 3, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  84. ^ a b Duncan, Jeff (April 2, 2019). "Zion Williamson could transform basketball in New Orleans and the Pelicans must do everything they can to get him". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  85. ^ "Zion declares for draft after 'best year' of life". ESPN.com. April 15, 2019. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  86. ^ "Pelicans pick Zion to open draft, Morant goes 2nd". ESPN.com. June 20, 2019. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  87. ^ "NBA draft: Zion Williamson is selected first by the New Orleans Pelicans". June 21, 2019. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  88. ^ David Cloninger (June 24, 2019). "Gamecock frustration: Of 4 S.C. players taken in NBA draft, none played at South Carolina".
  89. ^ "Pelicans sign Zion Williamson". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  90. ^ "Where is Zion Williamson?". sbnation.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  91. ^ Lopez, Andrew (January 22, 2020). "Pelicans' Zion Williamson erupts for 17 in 4th, sits out final minutes of debut". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  92. ^ "Zion Williamson: Most consecutive 20-point games by a rookie this year". The Rookie Wire. February 7, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  93. ^ "Zion is close to surpassing a rookie record held by Carmelo Anthony". The Rookie Wire. February 24, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  94. ^ Young, Ryan (February 28, 2020). "Zion Williamson becomes first teenager in NBA history with 10 straight 20-point games". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  95. ^ Botkin, Brad (March 1, 2020). "Zion Williamson goes toe to toe with LeBron James, extends teenage record with a career-high 35 points". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  96. ^ a b "Zion Williamson named to NBA All-Rookie First Team". New Orleans Pelicans. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  97. ^ "Ja Morant, Zion Williamsom headline 2019-20 Kia All-Rookie First Team". NBA.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  98. ^ "NBA All-Rookie: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson headline the First Team". The Rookie Wire. September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  99. ^ Eichenhofer, Jim (February 13, 2021). "Zion Williamson produces more rare NBA feats in career-high 36-point game at Dallas". New Orleans Pelicans. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  100. ^ "Ingram, Williamson score 30, Pelicans beat Nuggets 113–108". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  101. ^ Chua, Jeremy (March 13, 2021). "Zion Williamson Continues Assault Of Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Wilt Chamberlain Streaks". ClutchPoints. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  102. ^ "Zion Williamson nearing Shaquille O'Neal's record, posts another 20-point game on 50-percent shooting". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  103. ^ "Zion Williamson and surging Hawks trade NBA records in Isaiah Thomas' return to action". NBA.com Canada | The official site of the NBA. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  104. ^ CLark, Christian. "Zion's streak of 20-point games comes to end as Pelicans get whacked by Nets". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  105. ^ Feldman, Dan (September 27, 2021). "Zion Williamson out after foot surgery, hope for return by regular season". nba.nbcsports.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  106. ^ Feldman, Dan (October 20, 2021). "Pelicans concerned about Zion Williamson weighing more than 300 pounds". nba.nbcsports.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  107. ^ Negley, Cassandra (December 16, 2021). "Zion Williamson receives injection to 'stimulate bone healing,' out 4-6 more weeks". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  108. ^ Roscher, Liz (March 23, 2022). "Pelicans' Zion Williamson won't return this season due to foot injury". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  109. ^ "Newly signed Zion wants 'to prove I'm a winner'". ESPN.com. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  110. ^ DiGiovanni, Sam (October 5, 2022). "'Couldn't show them everything': Zion Williamson teases much more to come after epic return to Pelicans". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  111. ^ Guinhawa, Angelo (October 19, 2022). "Kevin Durant's 5-word reaction to Zion Williamson dominating Nets". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  112. ^ "Williamson powers Pelicans past Popovich-less Spurs, 117–99". ESPN.com. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  113. ^ "Zion Williamson revenge dunk sparks mass NBA brawl against Phoenix Suns". express.co.uk. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  114. ^ "Zion Williamson, Joel Embiid named NBA Players of the Week". NBA.com. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  115. ^ Guinhawa, Angelo (December 28, 2022). "Pelicans star Zion Williamson's wild 43-point night sends NBA Twitter into frenzy". ClutchPoints. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  116. ^ "Zion Williamson out at least 3 weeks with hamstring strain". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  117. ^ "2023 NBA All-Star Game roster announcement takeaways: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo voted team captains". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  118. ^ "2023 NBA All-Star Game: Anthony Edwards, De'Aaron Fox, Pascal Siakam named reserve replacements". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  119. ^ "Zion Williamson is injured again, so what do the Pelicans do now?". TheAthletic.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  120. ^ Ley, Tom. "Another Zion Williamson season ends in the toilet". Defector.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  121. ^ Ganglani, Nicole. ""It's rising suspicion everywhere" - NBA analyst believes Zion Williamson is a concern for the New Orleans Pelicans moving forward". basketballnetwork.net. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  122. ^ "Williamson's 33 points on near-perfect shooting lift Pelicans past 76ers 124-114". ESPN.com. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  123. ^ Buyawe, Brian (February 2, 2024). "Zion Williamson's game-winner vs. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs has Pelicans fans hyped". ClutchPoints. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  124. ^ "LeBron James and the Lakers beat Pelicans in play-in, earn a playoff rematch with the Nuggets". ESPN.com. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  125. ^ "Zion Williamson". Duke Blue Devils. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  126. ^ Boone, Kyle (January 21, 2018). "Why 5-star Zion Williamson would fit better at Clemson than Kentucky, Kansas, or Duke". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  127. ^ Phillips, Scott (July 7, 2018). "Zion Williamson breaks Duke vertical leap record". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  128. ^ O'Donnell, Ricky (October 19, 2017). "We've never seen anyone like Zion Williamson ... but will his game work in the NBA?". SB Nation. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  129. ^ Johnson, Chris. "Zion Williamson: Basketball's next dunking prodigy". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  130. ^ Smith, Cam (November 29, 2017). "Kevin Durant on Zion Williamson: 'He's a once-in-a-generation type athlete'". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  131. ^ Westerholm, Tony (January 20, 2018). "Zion Williamson to Duke: Three takeaways as hyper-athletic forward joins Blue Devils mens basketball". The Republican. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  132. ^ a b c Bossi, Eric (April 18, 2016). "Adidas Gauntlet: Feeding frenzy for five-star Langford". Rivals.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  133. ^ Astramskas, David (August 3, 2018). "The Insane Growth Of The Man-Child That Is Zion Williamson". ballislife.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  134. ^ Bossi, Eric; Evans, Corey (January 18, 2018). "Rival Views: The best Zion Williamson comparison". Rivals. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  135. ^ Fowler, Scott (February 16, 2017). "Is SC dunking phenom Zion Williamson basketball's next LeBron James?". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  136. ^ Wiseman, Steve (August 10, 2018). "Duke's Zion Williamson talks dunks, his fame and learning from Coach K". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  137. ^ Fowler, Scott (February 14, 2017). "Is Zion Williamson the best prep dunker ever? Watch this video from ONE GAME and drool". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  138. ^ Nelson, Ryne (August 29, 2017). "John Wall: Zion Williamson Is Top 2–3 'Most Athletic Player I've Ever Seen'". Slam. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  139. ^ Gribanov, Mike (November 11, 2017). "Draft Profile: Zion Williamson". The Stepien. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  140. ^ Flaherty, Kevin (April 19, 2018). "YouTube star Zion Williamson creates challenge for evaluators". 247Sports. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  141. ^ Westerholm, Tom (January 14, 2018). "Zion Williamson Scouting: How does the freakishly athletic HS forward project to the NBA?". The Republican. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  142. ^ Uehara, Rafael (August 1, 2018). "Prospect Report: Zion Williamson Of Duke". RealGM. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  143. ^ Cash, Meredith. "Zion Williamson shined in his NBA debut, but incessant comments about his weight distracted from the sensational performance". Business Insider.
  144. ^ sport, Guardian (January 23, 2020). "ESPN accused of fat-shaming Zion Williamson during electric NBA debut" – via The Guardian.
  145. ^ a b "Zion Williamson Speaks Against the Media's Focus On His Weight". SLAM. November 7, 2022.
  146. ^ Dizon, Orel (December 8, 2023). "'He doesn't have the second jump anymore' - Bill Simmons discusses Zion Williamson's overweight issues". Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball.
  147. ^ "The weight transformation of Pelicans' Zion Williamson is much more than what side-by-side photos show". www.sportingnews.com. October 25, 2022.
  148. ^ "Charles Barkley offers Zion Williamson advice on weight: 'I've been in your shoes'". www.sportingnews.com. May 25, 2023.
  149. ^ "Shaquille O'Neal Frustrated With Zion Williamson's Weight: 'He Could Be The Best Player In The League'". Yardbarker. December 8, 2023.
  150. ^ "The Pelicans threw in a 'weight and body fat percentage' clause in Zion Williamson's new contract extension". ftw.usatoday.com. July 29, 2022.
  151. ^ Sam, Doric. "Windhorst: Pelicans' Zion Williamson Lost 25 Pounds or More Since NBA IST in December". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  152. ^ Zagoria, Adam (July 23, 2019). "Zion Williamson Signs Multiyear Deal With Jordan Brand". Forbes. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  153. ^ Abdeldaiem, Alaa. "Report: Zion's shoe deal worth $75 million over five years". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  154. ^ Andrews, Malika; Lopez, Andrew (March 13, 2020). "Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson among stars aiding arena workers". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  155. ^ "Zion Williamson Finds Out He'll Be 'Girl Dad' In Epic Firework Gender Reveal". TMZ. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  156. ^ Andres, Patrick (June 7, 2023). "Stephen A. Smith Breaks Down Zion Williamson's Alleged Tryst With Adult Film Star as Only He Can". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 8, 2023.