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Started By
Message
Zion is more Derrick Coleman than Charles Barkley
Posted on 11/5/24 at 11:07 am
Posted on 11/5/24 at 11:07 am
Coleman had amazing physical skills and athleticism. But he was lazy. Got fat. Got hurt. Lacked leadership and ultimately his career was a major disappointment.
If I'm being honest and look at Zion through the eyes of a non-Pelicans fan, this isn't going to end well.
No one at his size has ever won anything. Shaq is a completely different story due to his height.
Zion's game is based on extreme athleticism and touch around the rim.
His injuries are starting to pile up. Players who are faster and more athletic but smaller or not as tall have relatively short peaks.
Blake Griffin
Shawn Kemp
Westbrook
Iverson
Rose
Morant (soon)
Guys like that fall off a cliff fast unlike dudes with skills like Stockton, Chris Paul, Horford, Garnett, Duncan, etc. play well into their 30s.
As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think Zion will ever reach his potential. The clock is ticking. Every year he will be a little less explosive. Every injury will diminish his athleticism slightly.
He's shown no indication that he will consistently stay in shape and maybe his body type is just not cut out for this.
What separates the greats from the what could have been is drive. He just doesn't have it.
If I'm being honest and look at Zion through the eyes of a non-Pelicans fan, this isn't going to end well.
No one at his size has ever won anything. Shaq is a completely different story due to his height.
Zion's game is based on extreme athleticism and touch around the rim.
His injuries are starting to pile up. Players who are faster and more athletic but smaller or not as tall have relatively short peaks.
Blake Griffin
Shawn Kemp
Westbrook
Iverson
Rose
Morant (soon)
Guys like that fall off a cliff fast unlike dudes with skills like Stockton, Chris Paul, Horford, Garnett, Duncan, etc. play well into their 30s.
As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think Zion will ever reach his potential. The clock is ticking. Every year he will be a little less explosive. Every injury will diminish his athleticism slightly.
He's shown no indication that he will consistently stay in shape and maybe his body type is just not cut out for this.
What separates the greats from the what could have been is drive. He just doesn't have it.
This post was edited on 11/5/24 at 1:50 pm
5
Posted on 11/5/24 at 11:16 am to ghost2most
No lies detected
Posted on 11/5/24 at 11:50 am to ghost2most
Hey Zion…..
Posted on 11/5/24 at 11:55 am to ghost2most
Throw Larry Johnson in the comparison. Both first overall picks. Of course LJ was rookie of the year and actually made some all star teams. And then he developed enough of a midrange game to contribute a few years past his athletic peak. Year 6 and Zion should be winning championships now. When he peaks athletically (if he hasn’t already), it’s a steep slide. I’d trade him today.
Posted on 11/5/24 at 12:32 pm to Jojodaddy
quote:
Larry Johnson
I feel like when we drafted Zion there was a lot of will his career be more Larry Johnson or Charles Barkley questions.
Sadly, at this point he isn’t even in the review mirror a Larry Johnson career.
Larry Johnson played 70+ games in 7 different seasons. He played in 80 games in 4 of his first 5 seasons.
What Zion has allowed to happen to his career through utter neglect of his diet and training is near unprecedented.
Posted on 11/5/24 at 1:08 pm to ned nederlander
quote:
I feel like when we drafted Zion there was a lot of will his career be more Larry Johnson or Charles Barkley questions.
Larry was 6’7 and 235. Barkley was 6’6 and 252. Zion is 6’6 and 284 (Im being generous). From an athlecism standpoint Zion is blessed a lot more. I watched those 2 guys. Unfortunately from a skill standpoint, the intangibles, leadership and conditioning its not even close. Barkley could score in a multitude of ways, solid defender and amazing rebounder. He was one of the league’s best players. Larry had injury issues but still was a talented athlete and had a decent career.
I agree with you. Zion’s downfall due to his weight, conditioning and immaturity should be a warning for basketball athletes. Hes the byproduct of an AAU world where they never pressure kids to improve or develop good habits. You wonder if Zion went to a team with better leadership or more stable organization- like Barkley did with Moses Malone- how it could have changed the trajectory of his career. I guess we’ll never know.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 1:56 pm to Pels_Yaz
Not sure Sir Charles ever really stayed at 252! But I do think he kept it around 260. And I'm not sure he was even 6'5"...
But what he was was a 300-pound rookie who'd played a lot of center in college. At that. size he still a pretty amazing athlete. But he quickly recognized--with Malone's help--that he couldn't play an NBA season at that weight. Forty pounds lighter we was on his way to a long, hall-of-fame, NBA career.
Imagine just for a moment Zion at 260 pounds. He'd be a terror! An explosive, flying dump truck with stamina who might play another decade. Sadly, there is little sign he has that level of commitment in him. Part of it is just temperament. There has to be some want to. The video from earlier this season showing him leaking out or standing around while others boxed out or went for the ball on rebounds was deflating. So passive around the boards when he should be a monster...
But what he was was a 300-pound rookie who'd played a lot of center in college. At that. size he still a pretty amazing athlete. But he quickly recognized--with Malone's help--that he couldn't play an NBA season at that weight. Forty pounds lighter we was on his way to a long, hall-of-fame, NBA career.
Imagine just for a moment Zion at 260 pounds. He'd be a terror! An explosive, flying dump truck with stamina who might play another decade. Sadly, there is little sign he has that level of commitment in him. Part of it is just temperament. There has to be some want to. The video from earlier this season showing him leaking out or standing around while others boxed out or went for the ball on rebounds was deflating. So passive around the boards when he should be a monster...
Posted on 11/6/24 at 8:33 pm to ghost2most
what ? Iverson played like 16 years and in his 11th season averaged 31.5 a game bro. How long did you expect him to play?
Posted on 11/6/24 at 8:42 pm to tibebecolston
also, Derrick Rose tore his ACL in year 2 and 4 so not really sure what you mean.
But yes, guys who are athletic and get really fat or stay fat don’t play as well. So Derrick Coleman, Kemp, Zion. The comp ends there.
Little guys… as I said AI played 16 years and was an MVP candidate until year 12. Was Isaiah Thomas good? Don’t get your Westbrook point, dudes been awesome for 15 of his 18 years. That’s not enough?
Was Dominique Wilkins good until he tore his achilles? Shawn Marion, Vince Carter, Kevin Johnson, Clyde Dexler, a guy with the last name of Jordan…. I can go on and on but all dudes who relied on athleticism who were awesome for a long time.
If you rely on athleticism and get fat and injured - yes, you then are not as good. Is that your amazing point?
But yes, guys who are athletic and get really fat or stay fat don’t play as well. So Derrick Coleman, Kemp, Zion. The comp ends there.
Little guys… as I said AI played 16 years and was an MVP candidate until year 12. Was Isaiah Thomas good? Don’t get your Westbrook point, dudes been awesome for 15 of his 18 years. That’s not enough?
Was Dominique Wilkins good until he tore his achilles? Shawn Marion, Vince Carter, Kevin Johnson, Clyde Dexler, a guy with the last name of Jordan…. I can go on and on but all dudes who relied on athleticism who were awesome for a long time.
If you rely on athleticism and get fat and injured - yes, you then are not as good. Is that your amazing point?
Posted on 11/6/24 at 9:13 pm to ghost2most
quote:
Players who are faster and more athletic but smaller or not as tall have relatively short peaks.
Vin Baker comes to mind.
Posted on 11/6/24 at 9:21 pm to Paul Allen
quote:
Vin Baker comes to mind.
Vin Baker drank his way to liver damage. That was a big part of his issue.
Posted on 11/12/24 at 9:36 am to Galactic Inquisitor
I'm completely out on him now.
I've always held out hope for him, but I'm done.
It will never happen. Not here and I don't think anywhere honestly.
He doesn't have the drive and his body won't hold up.
I've always held out hope for him, but I'm done.
It will never happen. Not here and I don't think anywhere honestly.
He doesn't have the drive and his body won't hold up.
Posted on 11/12/24 at 9:39 am to ghost2most
Zion is one of the biggest wastes of god given talent that we've ever seen.
We totally failed CP3 and AD but not Zion. Zion failed himself.
If you gave AD or CP3 the talent that we've put around Zion, we couldve made some serious noise.
We totally failed CP3 and AD but not Zion. Zion failed himself.
If you gave AD or CP3 the talent that we've put around Zion, we couldve made some serious noise.
Posted on 11/12/24 at 10:17 am to Balsamic_duck
quote:
If you gave AD or CP3 the talent that we've put around Zion, we couldve made some serious noise.
I don’t think they would have left if we gave them that type of talent. Our luck that fat boy was given the talent and fricked around.
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