Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Zion WilliamsonHere’s the information on Zion Williamson:

  • Full Name: Zion Lateef Williamson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 6, 2000
  • Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) without shoes; 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) with shoes
  • Weight: Around 284 lb (129 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Jordan Zion 3, Jordan Zion 2, Jordan Zion 1, Air Jordan 35, Air Jordan 34, Nike Kyrie 4, Nike PG 2.5
  • Number: #1 (New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
  • College: Duke University (Duke Blue Devils) (2018–2019)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 1st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans
  • Player Archetype: Explosive interior scoring point-forward / power slasher
  • Primary Offensive Role: Rim-pressure initiator and paint scorer operating from drives, post seals, and transition
  • Defensive Role: Switchable help defender with weak-side rim protection and passing-lane disruption
  • Play Style: Downhill bully-ball attacker using elite burst, body control, and touch around the rim; transition-heavy paint dominance
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Left-handed (finishes and shoots left)
  • Athletic Profile: Elite vertical explosiveness, rare second jump, powerful first step, exceptional body control, strong frame
  • Recruiting Status: Five-star recruit; consensus No. 2 overall prospect (2018 class)
  • Draft Status Detail: Consensus No. 1 overall prospect; franchise cornerstone projection throughout freshman season
  • Injury Status Category: Injury-prone / availability-limited star (foot, hamstring, conditioning-related absences)
  • Career Stage: In-prime star (when healthy)
  • Comparison Style: Charles Barkley-style power slasher; Blake Griffin athletic interior force; Julius Randle scoring blend
  • Teams Played For:
  • Championship Rings: None (as of 2024)
  • Parents: Lateef Williamson (father), Sharonda Sampson (mother)
  • Kids: A daughter named Azira (mothered by Ahkeema)
  • Siblings: Noah Anderson (stepbrother)

Zion Williamson’s player archetype is an explosive interior scoring point-forward built around overwhelming rim pressure, while his defensive role centers on switchable help coverage with weak-side rim protection and disruptive rotations. Offensively, he operates as a downhill initiator who collapses defenses with powerful drives, deep seals, and transition attacks, using rare physical traits—elite vertical pop, exceptional body control, and a massive frame—to finish through contact with soft touch. His play style prioritizes bully-ball penetration, quick second jumps, and relentless paint efficiency rather than perimeter creation, making him one of basketball’s most dominant interior scorers when healthy while still providing defensive versatility across multiple frontcourt matchups.

Profile Notes & Context

  • Zion Williamson’s height with shoes is 6 feet 7 inches.
  • Zion Williamson admitted to weighing 281 pounds after considerable weight loss after the 2023-24 NBA season. He planned on dropping to 272 pounds before the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season.
  • Similar players to Zion Williamson include Julius Randle.
  • Zion Williamson has worn numerous Player Edition basketball shoes, including Air Jordan 35 (Bayou Boys), Air Jordan 34 (orange and purple), Air Jordan 34 (Pelican), Air Jordan 34 (Infrared), Air Jordan 34 (Purple PE), Air Jordan 34 (New Orleans), Air Jordan 34 (Saints), Air Jordan 34 (black and white), Air Jordan 34 (Bayou Boys), Air Jordan 34 (Martin Luther King), Air Jordan 34 (The Brotherhood), Air Jordan 34 (pink and white), and Nike Kyrie 4 (Takeoff Imminent).

Fun Facts

  • Zion Williamson is famous for having broke a shoe while playing in a college basketball game for Duke in 2019. Zion was wearing the Nike PG 2.5s when his left shoe blew out on him, leaving the sole almost entirely detached from the rest of the shoe.
  • In 2019, Zion Williamson signed with the Jordan brand and has his own shoe line called the Jordan Zion. The Jordan Zion 3 included a glow-in-the-dark colorway where the shoe sole would glow in the dark.

Sources:
The Ringer — Zion Williamson Is the Most Dominant Young Force Since LeBron
Sports Illustrated — Inside Zion Williamson’s Unprecedented Rise
NBA.com — Zion Williamson’s Historic Scoring Efficiency Is No Fluke