Zion Williamson possesses a rare physical ability in basketball history, with an incredible vertical jump despite weighing up to 129 kg.
Williamson became a social media sensation at the age of 15 through videos showcasing his outstanding abilities on the court against players of his own age. The 20-year-old star plays like a true professional in high school-level tournaments. He possesses an incredible vertical leap, being able to touch the rim at a height of 3.05 meters (10 feet) at the age of 15.
Williamson was the number one target of many top college basketball teams in the United States while he was still in high school. Duke University beat out other major teams in NCAA Division 1 (the highest level of college basketball in the U.S.) to secure Williamson’s commitment. With Williamson on the team, Duke’s home games were always packed with fans.
Williamson is a rare case in the basketball world, as he defies conventional physical norms. Despite weighing 129 kilograms (285 pounds), the New Orleans Pelicans rookie moves with agility, jumps extremely high, and runs fast like perimeter players. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski revealed that Williamson has a vertical leap of 1.1 meters (43 inches) when jumping in place. Compared to the records of the top 10 highest jumpers in basketball history, Williamson ranks 7th.
Williamson appears to be flawless in terms of physical attributes. All these factors enable him to produce incredible and seemingly impossible high-flying dunks. Photos capturing Williamson’s moments of soaring through the air easily go viral on social media platforms.
Williamson has become a prominent figure for major basketball news outlets such as ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, and SB Nation. His popularity has grown to the point where many top NBA stars, such as LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul, have come to the court to witness his talent. Former U.S. President Barack Obama has also taken time to watch Williamson play.
Any doubts about his abilities were quickly dispelled as Williamson put on outstanding performances in the NBA. “Zanos” brought his dominance to the NBA and continued to showcase explosive performances. Many top defenders in the NBA sometimes find themselves helpless against Williamson’s physicality and talent.
Williamson averaged 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 19 games during the 2019/20 season. On March 1st, Williamson set a personal record by scoring 35 points in a game against the formidable Los Angeles Lakers. At 20 years old, Williamson is expected to become the face of the league in the future, when LeBron James retires. “The kid is special, we all know that. The way he plays the game is special,” James praised Williamson.
