Zion Williamson

American basketball player who became one of college basketball's most dominant forces at Duke before being drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in

Zion Lateef Williamson was born in Salisbury, North Carolina in 2000. He attended Duke University for one season and became the most talked-about college basketball player since LeBron James's high school years. He averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 68.0% from the field — the highest shooting percentage at Duke in decades. He won the Naismith Award as national player of the year — one of the youngest ever to win. He was the consensus All-American and ACC Player of the Year. His combination of 285-pound power forward physique with point guard athleticism and a 40-inch vertical was described by scouts as literally unprecedented in basketball history. A shoe malfunction that caused his foot to break through his Nike sneaker during a nationally televised game against North Carolina became one of college basketball's most viewed clips. New Orleans Pelicans selected him first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. His single Duke season — one year, unanimous national player of the year, first overall pick — compressed what might have been a four-year spectacle into a single season that the entire country watched. He is the defining one-and-done player of the recent era.

Williamson combined exceptional athleticism with surprising finesse around the basket despite his powerful 6'6", 284-pound frame. His explosive first step and incredible leaping ability allowed him to finish above the rim consistently, while his soft touch enabled him to score effectively in traffic.

Williamson helped usher in a new era of social media-driven basketball stardom, with his dunks regularly going viral and drawing massive television audiences to college games.

• Naismith Award (2019)
• ACC Player of Year
• Consensus All-American
• First overall pick 2019
• McDonald's All-American
• Jordan Brand Classic MVP
• Nike Hoop Summit participant