Can Zion Williamson Replicate Michael Jordan’s Greatness After Returning From Injury? 

Jeet Pukhrambam | 03/10/2022
Can Zion Williamson Replicate Michael Jordan's Greatness After Returning From Injury? 

When transcendent players enter the league, comparisons to Michael Jordan and LeBron James are mandatory. Zion Williamson is no exception.

Seldom do we see players that are compared to the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and for them to actually turn out like them. How many countless times have we heard a player being called “the next MJ” or “the next LeBron”?  And yet, we don’t see players living up to those expectations.

It is often the burden of expectations that leads to a player’s downfall. Many players simply cannot reach those heights, their ceilings are often overestimated. Not for Zion Williamson.

The power forward from New Orleans Pelicans has always shone brighter than a diamond. His dazzling smile helps seal the deal. But more than his demeanor or charm, it is his explosive gameplay that has brought a “shock and awe” factor to games.

Throughout his career, he has drawn comparisons to Michael Jordan, and maybe, just maybe, he might be able to do something only MJ did.

Also read: “Zion Williamson Gave All His Weight to CJ McCollum”: NBA Twitter Rip Apart 6’3” Pels Guard For Looking BIG

Can Zion Williamson average 37.0 ppg like Michael Jordan?

See, we get the gravity of the ask. Averaging 37 is not a joke, in fact, no player has done it since MJ himself. But if there is anyone who could make such a gigantic leap, it is Zion Williamson.

He did average nearly 30 ppg before his injury. And just like Jordan, the fortuitous timing of his injury aligns with that of the Bulls legend.

Michael broke his foot during the 85th game of the season, and Williamson broke his foot during the summer after his 85th. But why are we meticulously looking at timelines?

Well, MJ and Zion’s trajectories are almost identical. Great first 2 seasons, an injury that derailed the 3rd, and a scoring barrage in the 4th. 1986-87, Jordan put up a ridiculous 37 points per game! His highest output for any season.

Zion for all that is worth might not even come close to those figures but we might see a drastic change in his grasp of the game at the NBA level. Michael took quite the leap after injury and given Zion’s transformation, who is to say he won’t do the same?

Also read: Shaquille O’Neal Wants ‘big’ Zion Williamson Back, Doesn’t Care Too Much for 284-pound Version of Him

Post Edited By: Jeet Pukhrambam
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About the author

Jeet Pukhrambam

Jeet Pukhrambam is The SportsRush's Lead Editor for Basketball. After freelancing for five years as an independent writer, Jeet created thousands of blog posts and articles. He now covers intriguing news reports and throwback stories on all things NBA. His interest in NBA started with the ascendancy of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2016-17 season. Since then, Jeet has managed to coalesce his knowledge of the game and his writing to create pieces that are reflective of the current state of the league. Now, he ensures that The SportsRush produces the highest quality of writing. In his free time, he enjoys playing football, cooking, traveling, and dancing to techno. Jeet takes pride in his critical thinking, music playlists, and his love for spaghetti.

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