SmashMouth

This was supposed to be a column gauging expectations for Zion Williamson’s rookie season. Then he scored 77 points on 80% shooting over the course of three preseason games, leading the Pelicans to an undefeated mark in contests that are meaningless, yet somehow still relevant. In actuality, it’s still a column about expectations. They’re just maybe slightly higher than they already were, say, seven days ago.

Here are 10 rational thoughts about Zion Williamson before the hysteria overwhelms.

1. As someone who’s invested more time and thought into projecting Williamson’s NBA future than most people on this fair planet, let me just acknowledge that I, too, am blown away by what’s already happened. I got chills watching him render Rudy Gobert helpless on multiple occasions last week. It’s really hard not to be excited. Every game, it’s something different that makes you pause for a second. As friend of mine in the industry put it long ago, watching Williamson play basketball is like eating candy.

2. We have to remember that this is the preseason, but the biggest and most relevant takeaway from the small sample size is that Williamson’s generational physicality already plays up at 19 years old. It was one thing watching him do essentially whatever he wanted around the rim at Duke. It’s a whole different thing seeing his approach translate against NBA bodies. There’s not going to be much of an adjustment period for him at all when it comes to finishing at the basket. He’s too strong, too explosive, and has an unbelievable knack for using the glass, feeling out pockets of space around the basket, and converting. I personally have little doubt that those elements of his game are for real.

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