OT: Will Zion ever be healthy enough to fulfill potential?

[18IsTheMan]

Or has the ship already sailed on him fulfilling his potential?

I don't really follow the NBA much at all, but I did see a blurb where Zion is injured again. Guess he's been out since 1/2 and is expected to miss several more weeks at least. He's only played in half of his teams games this year. Didn't play at all last year. Only played in 24 games his rookie year. He's young, so there's potentially a long way to go, but in 4 NBA seasons, he's only had one uninterrupted season. And it was a good one. With his size, there was always the question of durability with an NBA grind. His raw talent is tantalizing and you can't help but wonder how could he could be if he can get healthy consistently. So far, he just hasn't been able to. You wonder if this is all just a fluke and he'll put it behind him or if it's what we've seen too many times in the past...an uber-talented but injury-prone player. And, so far his injuries have all been lower body, which raises concerns...torn meniscus, fractured foot and injured hamstring.

He'll always draw comparisons to Morant since they came out in the same class. Through the same number of games, Morant has played in 235 to Zion's 114. Memphis has to be thanking their lucky stars.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Sailed.

He's too heavy.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Sailed.

He's too heavy.

With his weight and all his injuries so far being lower body, it doesn't bode well.

He'll still be a very good player when he's healthy, but it doesn't like he'll ever achieve #1 draft pick accomplishments.

 

[SeaMountain]

Like women's basketball no one cares.

 

[DrMickeySC]

Like women's basketball no one cares.

 

[CWW]

Like women's basketball no one cares.

. Sorry you feel that way! Women and girls enjoy sports, also.

 

[Tidalcock]

Or has the ship already sailed on him fulfilling his potential?

I don't really follow the NBA much at all, but I did see a blurb where Zion is injured again. Guess he's been out since 1/2 and is expected to miss several more weeks at least. He's only played in half of his teams games this year. Didn't play at all last year. Only played in 24 games his rookie year. He's young, so there's potentially a long way to go, but in 4 NBA seasons, he's only had one uninterrupted season. And it was a good one. With his size, there was always the question of durability with an NBA grind. His raw talent is tantalizing and you can't help but wonder how could he could be if he can get healthy consistently. So far, he just hasn't been able to. You wonder if this is all just a fluke and he'll put it behind him or if it's what we've seen too many times in the past...an uber-talented but injury-prone player. And, so far his injuries have all been lower body, which raises concerns...torn meniscus, fractured foot and injured hamstring.

He'll always draw comparisons to Morant since they came out in the same class. Through the same number of games, Morant has played in 235 to Zion's 114. Memphis has to be thanking their lucky stars.

Not looking too good for him right now. Just too heavy.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Zion "full potential" = slow morph into Booger McFarland.

 

[TN-Gamecock]

Could care less!!!

 

[athenscock3]

When Duke opened the checkbook to his dad, I lost interest in him. Let him flop.

 

[Anderson Gamecock]

When Duke opened the checkbook to his dad, I lost interest in him. Let him flop.

Don't know if he has lost any weight since his one year at Dook, but playing as many games that the NBA requires is the problem. He was OK in high school (no one to challenge him) as well as Dook. The travel and the grind in the NBA is too much for him at his current weight. He will continue to stay hurt if he doesn't drop a lot of weight. Having said that, I really don't care.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Don't know if he has lost any weight since his one year at Dook, but playing as many games that the NBA requires is the problem. He was OK in high school (no one to challenge him) as well as Dook. The travel and the grind in the NBA is too much for him at his current weight. He will continue to stay hurt if he doesn't drop a lot of weight. Having said that, I really don't care.

That's the crux of the issue. The number of games is more than doubled what he played in high school and college.

By comparison, at LSU Shaq was 7'1", 294 lbs. Zion at Duke was 6'6", 284 lbs. Shaq weighed 10 lbs more but was 7' taller.

In hindsight, it seems odd that NBA teams weren't more worried about this aspect, but I guess they just figured it was worth the roll of the dice. High risk, high reward.

 

[frank.bank]

Isn't his size also a part of what makes him good....when he plays? If he loses, say, 30 pounds, will he be as good?

 

[18IsTheMan]

Isn't his size also a part of what makes him good....when he plays? If he loses, say, 30 pounds, will he be as good?

I don't follow the NBA all that closely, so I can't give an educated response on that.

For the position he plays, though, I don't think his weight is a factor in making him good. He's heavier than anyone else playing at his position. From what I read about him in high school during his recruitment, references to his weight were more along the lines of "it's amazing he's as athletic as he is in spite of his weight." I don't know that it's ever been viewed as a positive.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

Should have played DT for the Cocks

 

[Thunderstick]

Should have played DT for the Cocks

I'm thinking TE.

 

[KingWard]

A heavier version of Grant Hill.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

I'm thinking TE.

Wesley Saunders ring a bell?

 

[Thunderstick]

Wesley Saunders ring a bell?

Wasn’t he the logo for Kentucky Fried Chicken?

 

[GboCOCK]

He’s been hurt so often I would call them chronic. At 6-7 or 6-8 the kid weighs close to 300 lbs. MBB is a game of speed, quickness & endurance. If you play 3/4 or more of a game, you run several miles a game. The cumulative effect of all pounding on your knees & ankles not to mention his lower back is substantial. For his own good he should play at 250 or less.

 

[BetaLiberalCock1]

Or has the ship already sailed on him fulfilling his potential?

I don't really follow the NBA much at all, but I did see a blurb where Zion is injured again. Guess he's been out since 1/2 and is expected to miss several more weeks at least. He's only played in half of his teams games this year. Didn't play at all last year. Only played in 24 games his rookie year. He's young, so there's potentially a long way to go, but in 4 NBA seasons, he's only had one uninterrupted season. And it was a good one. With his size, there was always the question of durability with an NBA grind. His raw talent is tantalizing and you can't help but wonder how could he could be if he can get healthy consistently. So far, he just hasn't been able to. You wonder if this is all just a fluke and he'll put it behind him or if it's what we've seen too many times in the past...an uber-talented but injury-prone player. And, so far his injuries have all been lower body, which raises concerns...torn meniscus, fractured foot and injured hamstring.

He'll always draw comparisons to Morant since they came out in the same class. Through the same number of games, Morant has played in 235 to Zion's 114. Memphis has to be thanking their lucky stars.

Heard a blurb on youtube somewhere ~ I'll never be able to find it again / sorry..... but I know I saw it and I know what I saw. The bottom line is this: Somewhere in his contract (it was shown) he had to stay under a certain weight. It was right there in the contract.

Anyway, my point is, the kid is fat, rich, entitled, and he's a flop. All the talent in the world but no heart or fire to keep his body in shape. He wanted the payday without the effort and he got it. In a few more years it will be "Zion who?" #Flop.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Heard a blurb on youtube somewhere ~ I'll never be able to find it again / sorry..... but I know I saw it and I know what I saw. The bottom line is this: Somewhere in his contract (it was shown) he had to stay under a certain weight. It was right there in the contract.

Anyway, my point is, the kid is fat, rich, entitled, and he's a flop. All the talent in the world but no heart or fire to keep his body in shape. He wanted the payday without the effort and he got it. In a few more years it will be "Zion who?" #Flop.

Yep, you’re right. Per his contract, his max weight is 295, but that’s not much of a restriction. Still way too heavy for his height. That number tells me the Pelicans don’t think he can lose weight. They just don’t want him getting over 300.