Despite the fact that the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled this season, Zion Williamson has made the team fun to watch. Williamson is showing why he was the No. 1 overall pick. Zion Williamson has been dominating defenses with his ability to finish inside the rim, and his jaw-dropping athleticism is amazing to watch from a fan’s perspective.
Zion Williamson’s dominance on the offensive end has led to comparisons with another unstoppable interior force in Shaquille O’Neal. While one can see where the comparisons come from, Zion Williamson is a different player. Recently, former NBA champion B. J. Armstrong explained why the comparisons between Williamson and O’Neal aren’t entirely accurate.
You’re talking about Shaquille O’Neal all right. We’re talking about Shaq Diesel. Zion is putting up historical numbers, historical, right. You look at the stats; he’s averaging roughly 27 points a game, he’s shooting 61 from the field. No one’s done that in the history of the NBA okay no one’s done that especially at his age okay.
No one in the modern NBA has had the impact that Shaquille O’Neal has had. No one has had that type of impact as far as being a dominant physical force in this league. Now Zion is putting up numbers on the offensive end. But Zion is not dominating the game on the defensive end. He’s not dominating the game at rim protection… You couldn’t double team Shaquille O’Neal with a guard.
I think he will be an offensive force. I think he’s a winning player. I think he will continue to grow… He’s a very unique player. The only player that I can compare him to is Charles Barkley.
Shaquille O’Neal dominated the game on another level, but Armstrong definitely points out some aspects of O’Neal’s game that Zion Williamson doesn’t have. While he may not be the next Shaquille O’Neal, Armstrong offers comparisons to another Hall of Famer in Charles Barkley. Zion Williamson is a force to be reckoned with regardless, and one can only imagine how good he will be in the years to come.
