Zion Williamson Responds to Critics: Showing Maturity Beyond His Age

This week has been all about the NBA phenomenon Zion Williamson and rightly so. He had an impressive debut scoring 22 points with 17 straight points coming in the fourth against the Spurs.

Zion Williamson receives praise and advice

He received plenty of praises and advice from current and former players after his debut. Most notable of them were namely Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Jordan.

Giannis said:

“He’s going to be a beast, the whole league knows you’re going to be a beast”. He also advised the young star to err on the side of caution and not to rush the process to get healthy.

Jordan said :

“The NBA is very fortunate to have a talented young man who shows a certain passion about the game, That’s something you can’t get. You’re born with it, and you share it with the rest of the world.”

He was taken out of the game during his hot streak against Spurs due to his minute restrictions. He asked coach Alvin Gentry to let him play the game as he can win the game for the team. When asked about it post-game Gentry replied that the medical staff were completely against that and that they had to think long term in regards to him.

This is a clear example of how much passion he has for the game and how excited he is to prove himself in the NBA.

 Zion Williamson’s Criticism

As good as he is that doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any critiques of his game. Broadcasters Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy kept talking about his weight during the whole game. According to them, there is a glaring need for him to reduce his weight

He says his weight is a blessing and an advantage. His unique frame, size and the finesse with which he handles his body makes him harder to guard in the Woj podcast.

In his game against Nuggets, when asked about his performance he can identify his areas to improve. This and how he responds to his criticism showcases his maturity and the confidence with which he plays.

He looked every bit as dynamic and athletic as looked in pre-season games against the Nuggets. Playing 21 minutes he scored 15 points 6 rebounds 1 steal and 1 block, a very solid performance. He is a walking highlight reel as showcased in today’s game.

Zion Williamson’s Alley-Oop dunk to open the scoring for Pelicans:

Zion Willamson’s Block: