A few months before the NBA season started, 2 promising stars declared for the NBA draft. The highly-touted, well-recognized, Duke alum Zion Williamson, and the often overlooked, scrawny, unlimited potential Ja Morant. These 2 electrifying players had high hopes coming into the season, reflected by their selections being at 1st and 2nd, respectively. Early on, however, Zion got injured, one of the many knocks scouts had on him due to "unsustainable" frame. As the season went on, Ja gained notoriety by coaches, media, and other players, bursting onto the scene as a top level point guard, averaging 17, 4, and 7 a night. Morant continued to tear up the league en route to what many believe will be a rookie of the year achieving season. Williamson, however, recently came back from injury to make his debut just a few weeks ago, a debut in which he scored 17 straight points in the 4th to nearly bring his team back from a double-digit deficit. Now averaging 21 and 8, Zion has lived up to the potential that many recognized him to have when entering the league.
Although many believed that both these rookies would have great success in their 1st year, nobody could've predicted the immediate impact these stars have had on their struggling franchises. Both rookies have brought their teams within striking distance of the hyper competitive Western Conference while improving the play of those around them. As the NBA progresses to a new era of basketball in which the 3-pointer is so vital, neither one of these stars relies on the shot, a major advantage they have over shooters. Due to their incredible athleticism, a 3-pointer will likely not be needed for Morant and Williamson to survive in the NBA. Instead, it can become a back-up option that will supplement their fast, high-powered game.
With standout young talents such as Luka Doncic and Trae Young, both Morant and Williamson have paths laid out for them to succeed as long as they do their part in helping their respective franchises. The future is bright not only for these young stars but also the NBA as the star-driven league has managed to add 2 new once in a generation talents that will likely continue revolutionizing the game for the next decade or 2.