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Is Zion Williamson too heavy for the physical forces he generates ?..

WCDawg

I think so.

His Nike shoe came apart because of it, which caused the knee sprain. I think he has to lose 30lb or so to hold up in The NBA.

An 82 game schedule against the best big athetes in the world is brutal for anybody, let alone a souped up Mack Truck trying to hold up in Motocross.

Thoughts ?

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WCDawg

Something to consider. Charles Barkley was a freak at Auburn, he played at 6'6'' around 290lb.

His best playing weight in The NBA was around 250lb.

Bankwalker

He hasnt been in a sttength and conditioning program yet. What he weighs 2 years from now after the NBA guys get him will probably be the same or more. Hard to draw any conclusions based on one shoe coming apart More likely to be defective He’s not the first 280lber to be jumping around on a basketball court He’s not King Kong

Barkley played at Auburn before S&C was a big thing and he probably didnt work hard at anything. Brains on the Plains are optional.

bmauldin

And yet, he can hit his head on the backboard.

Just imagine how high he could jump if the 30lbs was holding him back...😳

Canedawg2140

Coached against the kid all through high school. Went from 215-235-255-270 during his 4 years and actually got QUICKER each year. Kid turns 19 in June - that's right, he won't turn 19 until a couple weeks before the draft. No one knows what his grown-man size will actually be. Until then, "controlling" his weight/size is a moot point. It's not like he is carrying a lot of bad weight - it's pretty much muscle. He is still growing, and will continue for probably another couple of years. He has more natural agility/body control than any player I have ever seen at any level. His size/weight may limit his NBA career to 12 great years instead of 15-16, but it's gonna be an incredible decade-plus. Projecting his career/size/potential is still pretty tough because we still have no idea just how big he is going to get - I have been waiting for him to slow down (as far as growing) for 3 years, and it hasn't happened yet. Not that I am an expert or anything, but I caution anyone who puts limits on this guy that would apply to most guys (as far as what he needs to weigh, etc.). He is no less unique than Shaq was - one of a kind.

WCDawg

Bankwalker. It's the 82 game schedule and NBA pace that sheds to fat more than training.

WCDawg

Canedawg. I've read the articles. He was 6'3'' 175 his freshman year. He kept adding weight and getting more athletic.

That isn't the same as carrying the weight with his style of running and jumping over 82 games season after season. He'd put LESS force on his joints if he was slower and didn't jump as high. If Shaq had moved like Williamson does he would have broken down much sooner, he broke down relatively young as it was.

WCDawg

bmauldin. I'm eager to see what he does at 250lb. He might be the most dynamic big to ever play the game.

If anybody thinks the bulk actually helps him jump higher, you must think physics is more suggestion than law.

3rdshift

80 plus games as a starter has been 2 much..since the jump...not wise imo to treat your investment in your players that way....not to mention a starters body...esp bigs.....also it lends to a bad boring product.... zion will be fine...in the nba he will be in top 1% of players ....he can play 8-10 yrs and prob net 80-100m$ on salary alone...if his knees hurt @ 30... he can call his $ manager to ease the pain....

WCDawg

3rdshift. 82 games is about revenue. They can't put 60K in the seats and charge 150 per ticket like The NFL. I'm betting if players were given the option of playing half as many games for half as much money, they'd take the money. Basketball at the NBA level is a lean man's game.

TNDawg71

At the very least he may need to redistribute the weight. I'm not 100% sure though that a shoe blow out and injury is caused by his size or just a really bad manufactured shoe.

Canedawg2140

My 2 cents worth, again... there's a chance (good chance) he hasn't stopped growing yet. He's 18 and a half. Hard to lose weight when you are still growing - and any outlandish efforts to drop weight to fit a "profile" may hamper his natural physical development. We may see him at a different weight eventually, but I would caution trying to lose a lot right now. Duke's S&C program is top-tier. I would imagine he is getting the best in that regard.

WC - I am not sure what articles you read, so I don't want to dispute your numbers. From a very close vantage point I can make a educated estimation that he weighed A LOT more than 175 in Jan/Feb of his freshman year. Broke his wrist early in that season, and didn't return to the floor until mid Jan. By mid Feb the spookiness was becoming obvious.

I thought he was Larry Johnson-ish as a high school Junior. More like a Dominique/Barkley clone as a senior. Now it's obvious that he is just different than everyone. The only certainty I would put on him is that he won't be wearing stock shoes anymore...

WCDawg

TNDawg71. I'd bet money the shoe blowout had a lot to do to the stress of 285lb moving like Williamson does put on them.

WCDawg

Cane. All Zion will likely need to do to lose weight is have a healthy diet and play an NBA schedule. He'd be wise to drop at least some weight before next season though.

Canedawg2140

And, from a physics standpoint since it was mentioned...

The momentum he creates is the measurable that is so impressive. That speed at that mass is what is so unstoppable. Never seen it before on anyone.

Not sure if he needs to jump higher (and, yes - that sounds crazy to even type...). Would his vertical go to 50" if he lost 30 lbs? Would a greater speed at less mass make him better? Sounds like a thesis statement for somebody's PhD...

I know the normal human body is not supposed to endure that much stress (on joints, ligaments, etc.) over a long period of time. There are stories after stories of terrific athletes who "outperformed their bodies." Maybe Bo Jackson and his crazy hip injury comes to mind. But look at LeBron - until this groin thing, the most impressive thing about him may be his history (or lack of) on the injured list. Some guys are just made differently.

This is a great debate. I just happen to think he will be in his 3rd year in the league before we know what his true build may be. If it turns out to be 6'8", 300, then we may only see 7-8 years of dominance. But man, it will be dominant - and then there will be 2 seasons of Sports Science dedicated just to him...

WCDawg

Cane. Christian Okoye comes to mind. A 255lb RB who was more explosive than most 200lb backs was very freakish. Alas he wore down very quickly though.

Zion will follow the course Charles Barkley did. The NBA schedule will trim him down to 250lb or there about.