Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0
1 Basketball
ZionWilliamson
Williamson's game is built on rim pressure; at the Pelicans he is the interior option the offence runs through, with All-Star recognition behind him.
Overview
Zion Williamson plays downhill. At 1.98 metres he carries the strength to absorb contact at the rim and the footwork to spin out of a post-up when the help arrives. His shot creation starts close to the basket, where a quick first step and a low centre of gravity turn a small gap into a dunk. When defenders load up, he kicks the ball out, and he rebounds his own end hard enough to start breaks.
For the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2025/26 NBA season, Williamson is the forward the offence is built around: first option on interior touches, a screener who rolls hard and an outlet who pushes tempo after a rebound. Two All-Star selections followed his All-Rookie First Team place. Opponents have to choose between collapsing on his drives and leaving Pelicans shooters alone.
Draft & background
Teams by season
Questions fans ask
He went to Duke for college, playing 33 games for the Blue Devils before heading towards the NBA.
Born in Salisbury in the United States, he is an American basketball player.
A basketball player in the NBA, he stands 1.98 m tall and plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.
He plays as a power forward, a role that has brought him All-Star recognition in 2021 and 2023.
He entered the NBA through the 2019 draft, going to the New Orleans Pelicans as the number one pick.