Zion Williamson facts for kids
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Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020
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| No. 1 – New Orleans Pelicans | |
|---|---|
| Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 6, 2000 Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S. |
| High school | Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, South Carolina) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 284 lb (129 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Duke (2018–2019) |
| NBA Draft | 2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans | |
| Pro career | 2019–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2019–present | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Zion Lateef Williamson (born July 6, 2000) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Zion is a power forward. After playing one year for the Duke Blue Devils in college, the Pelicans chose him as the first player picked in the 2019 NBA draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020. In 2021, he became one of the youngest NBA players ever picked for an All-Star game.
Zion was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. He went to Spartanburg Day School in high school. He was considered one of the top five players in his class. He led his team to win three state championships in a row. In his final year, he was named South Carolina Mr. Basketball. Zion also became a McDonald's All-American. He was known for his amazing slam dunks in high school.
During his only year at Duke, Zion won many awards. These included ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year. He set a school record for points scored by a freshman in one game. He also won the Wayman Tisdale Award.
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Zion Williamson's Early Life and Basketball Journey
Zion Williamson was born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina. His parents were Lateef Williamson and Sharonda Sampson. His father played football, and his mother was a sprinter. Zion was named after Mount Zion, a biblical place. When he was two, his family moved to Florence, South Carolina. His parents later divorced, and his mother married Lee Anderson, a former college basketball player.
Besides basketball, Zion also played soccer and football. When he was five, he dreamed of becoming a college basketball star. By age nine, he started waking up early to train. He played in youth leagues, coached by his mother. He also played for the Sumter Falcons, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team. He often played against older kids. His stepfather helped him improve his skills as a point guard. In middle school, Zion played for Johnakin Middle School. He averaged 20 points per game and lost only three games in two years. In 2013, he helped his team win a conference title.
Zion's High School Basketball Career
Freshman and Sophomore Seasons: Growing and Dominating
Zion went to Spartanburg Day School, a small private school. He played basketball for the Griffins. Between eighth and ninth grade, he grew from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 3 inches. Before his first season, he practiced hard and learned how to dunk. He also played for the South Carolina Hornets AAU team with Ja Morant. As a freshman, Zion averaged 24.4 points and 9.4 rebounds. He helped Spartanburg Day reach the state championship game.
By his second year, he was 6 feet 6 inches tall. As a sophomore, he averaged 28.3 points and 10.4 rebounds. He led the Griffins to their first regional title. In 2016, he was the top scorer at the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp. He also won a dunk contest in New York City.
Junior Season: National Spotlight and Records
As a junior, Zion averaged 36.8 points and 13 rebounds per game. In the 2016–17 season, his highlight videos went viral, making him famous across the country. In one game, he scored a tournament-record 53 points and 16 rebounds. He also won MVP at another tournament. In January 2017, rapper Drake wore Zion's jersey, which brought him even more attention.
Zion scored over 2,000 career points in January. He broke the state record for most games with 30 points or more in a season. He was named National Junior of the Year by MaxPreps and made the USA Today All-USA first team. In June, he was featured on the cover of Slam magazine.
Senior Season: More Achievements and Injuries
In his senior year, Zion averaged 36.4 points and 11.4 rebounds. In January 2018, he scored 36 points in a nationally televised game. In February, he scored his 3,000th career point. He led Spartanburg Day to their third straight state championship.
In March 2018, Zion played in the McDonald's All-American Game. He scored 8 points but left with a thumb injury. This injury made him miss other important games. For his senior season, he was again named to the USA Today All-USA first team. He also earned South Carolina Mr. Basketball honors.
Recruiting: Choosing Duke University
Wofford was the first college to offer Zion a scholarship when he was a freshman. By the end of his sophomore year, he had offers from 16 top college programs. In August 2016, Duke offered him a scholarship. Before his junior season, he was ranked as the number one player in his class by 247Sports.
On January 20, 2018, Zion announced on ESPN that he would go to Duke. He said he chose Duke because of its "brotherhood" and because Mike Krzyzewski was a legendary coach. Duke also got two other top recruits, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish, making them the first team to get the top three recruits in one class.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Williamson PF |
Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg Day School (SC) | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 272 lb (123 kg) | Jan 20, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 96 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 5 247Sports: 7 ESPN: 2 | ||||||
Sources: |
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Zion's College Career at Duke
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On November 6, 2018, Zion played his first game for Duke. He scored 28 points in a big win against Kentucky. He and his teammate RJ Barrett broke the Duke freshman scoring record for a debut game. In his next game, Zion scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and blocked six shots. He became only the second Duke player to have such high numbers in one game. He was then named player and freshman of the week in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
In January 2019, Zion had another great game against Clemson. He scored 25 points and made a 360-degree dunk. He earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors again. Later that month, he scored 35 points and 10 rebounds against Syracuse. This broke the Duke freshman record for points in a single game. He continued to set records for 25-point games as a freshman.
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On February 20, 2019, Zion got a knee injury during a game against North Carolina. His Nike shoe ripped, causing him to slip. He missed the rest of that game and the final six regular season games. This incident led to discussions about college athletes being paid.
When the regular season ended, Zion was named Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the ACC. He was also named ACC Athlete of the Year. He made the ACC All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams.
Zion returned from his injury on March 14 for the ACC tournament. He scored 29 points and 14 rebounds in a win against Syracuse. He made all 13 of his shots, which was a school and tournament record. The next day, he scored 31 points, including the winning shot, to beat North Carolina. After scoring 21 points in the championship game, Zion was named ACC Tournament MVP. He was only the sixth freshman to win this award.
For the 2019 NCAA tournament, CBS even had a special "Zion Cam" to follow him. In his first NCAA Tournament game, he scored 25 points. He then scored 32 points and 11 rebounds in a close win against UCF. On March 31, he scored 24 points and 14 rebounds in a close loss to Michigan State, which ended Duke's season. In his freshman year, Zion averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. He shot 68% from the field, which was the highest ever for a freshman. He was one of only a few freshmen to get over 500 points, 50 steals, and 50 blocks in a season.
On April 15, 2019, Zion announced he would enter the 2019 NBA draft.
Zion's Professional Career in the NBA
New Orleans Pelicans: Starting His NBA Journey (2019–20 Season)
On June 20, 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans chose Zion as the first pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He officially signed with the Pelicans on July 1, 2019. Before his first season, Zion had a knee injury (a torn meniscus) in October 2019.
He made his NBA debut three months later, on January 22, 2020. He scored 22 points and had 7 rebounds in 18 minutes. In his first eight games, Zion scored at least 20 points in four games in a row. He became the first teenager in NBA history to score at least 20 points in 10 consecutive games. On March 1, he scored a career-high 35 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Zion finished his rookie season averaging 22.5 points per game. He was first among all rookies in points and offensive rebounds. He was the first rookie since Michael Jordan to have 16 games with 20 points or more in his first 20 games. On September 15, Zion was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
First All-Star Selection (2020–21 Season)
On February 12, 2021, Zion scored a career-high 36 points against the Dallas Mavericks. He shot very well, making 14 of 15 shots. This made him the youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points with such high shooting accuracy. On February 23, 2021, Zion was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game.
During this season, Zion tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for the longest streak of games with at least 20 points on 50% shooting. This streak grew to 25 games, tying Shaquille O'Neal's record.
Dealing with Injuries (2021–22 and 2022–23 Seasons)
In the 2021 off-season, Zion broke a bone in his right foot and had surgery. Team officials hoped he would return by the start of the season, but his return was delayed. In mid-December, it was announced that his injury was healing slowly. He ended up missing the entire 2021–22 season.
On July 6, 2022, Zion signed a big contract extension with the Pelicans. He returned from his injury on October 4, 2022, in a preseason game. On October 19, he played his first regular season game in a long time. He scored 25 points and had 9 rebounds in a win against the Brooklyn Nets.
In December, Zion had several strong games. He scored 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists against the San Antonio Spurs. He also scored a season-high 35 points against the Phoenix Suns. On December 12, he was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time. On December 28, Zion scored a career-high 43 points in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, Zion got a hamstring injury on January 2, 2023. He was chosen for his second NBA All-Star appearance on January 26, 2023. But because of his injury, he could not play and was replaced. Team officials later confirmed he would miss the rest of the regular season. He also missed the Pelicans' play-in game, which ended their season.
Return to Play (2023–24 Season)
On November 29, 2023, Zion scored 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers. On February 2, 2024, he scored 33 points and made a game-winning shot against the San Antonio Spurs. On April 16, in his first play-in game, Zion scored 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. His postseason debut was cut short by an injury in the final minutes.
Recent Season (2024–25 Season)
Zion started the 2024–25 season healthy. However, he got a left hamstring strain early on and missed 27 games. He returned on January 8, 2025, scoring 22 points. On January 10, the team suspended him for one game for being late for a team flight. On February 27, Zion achieved his first career triple-double (scoring double digits in points, rebounds, and assists). He had 27 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. On March 11, he got another triple-double with 22 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. On March 19, he got a bone bruise in his lower back, which ended his season after only 30 games.
Zion's Player Profile and Skills
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Zion Williamson is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 284 pounds. Even though he is heavy for a basketball player, he is known for his amazing speed and jumping ability. NBA player Kevin Durant called him a "once-in-a-generation type athlete." Zion plays the power forward position. He can also play as a smaller center. People have compared his physical abilities to former NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Larry Johnson. His high school coach said that coach Roy Williams thought Zion was one of the best high school players he had seen since Michael Jordan. Zion is left-handed but can use both hands well.
In high school, Zion became famous for his slam dunks. Some people said he might be the best high school dunker ever. NBA point guard John Wall compared Zion's in-game dunking to Vince Carter. While his outside shooting has been a concern, experts praise his ball handling and passing skills for someone his size. Zion can also defend many different positions because of his speed and long arms. He is good at blocking shots and rebounding.
Throughout his NBA career, some people in the media have commented on Zion's weight. Before the 2021–22 season, his weight increased. He lost weight in 2022. However, in 2023, retired basketball players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal shared their concerns about his weight. Zion's contract with the Pelicans includes rules about maintaining his weight and body fat percentage. Since the 2023 In-Season Tournament, Zion has improved his physical condition, losing 25 pounds.
Endorsements
On July 23, 2019, Zion signed a five-year, $75 million shoe deal with Jordan brand. This was the second-largest rookie shoe deal in history, after LeBron James's deal in 2003.
Charitable Efforts
On March 13, 2020, Zion promised to pay the salaries of all employees at the Smoothie King Center for 30 days. This was during the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was one of several basketball players who helped arena workers during that time.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular Season Performance
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | New Orleans | 24 | 24 | 27.8 | .583 | .429 | .640 | 6.3 | 2.1 | .7 | .4 | 22.5 |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans | 61 | 61 | 33.2 | .611 | .294 | .698 | 7.2 | 3.7 | .9 | .6 | 27.0 |
| 2022–23 | New Orleans | 29 | 29 | 33.0 | .608 | .368 | .714 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 26.0 |
| 2023–24 | New Orleans | 70 | 70 | 31.5 | .570 | .333 | .702 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 1.1 | .7 | 22.9 |
| 2024–25 | New Orleans | 30 | 30 | 28.6 | .567 | .231 | .656 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 1.2 | .9 | 24.6 |
| Career | 214 | 214 | 31.4 | .589 | .327 | .689 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .6 | 24.7 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 1 | 14.4 | .556 | — | — | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 10.0 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Duke | 33 | 33 | 30.0 | .680 | .338 | .640 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 22.6 |
See also
In Spanish: Zion Williamson para niños
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
