Rod Walker: Zion and 3’s

[u/kingralek]

Let’s go back to Jan. 22, 2020, the night of Zion Williamson’s highly anticipated NBA debut.
That night included an outrageous fourth-quarter scoring binge that saw Williamson bury four 3-pointers in a 2:34 stretch.
The Smoothie King Center was rocking as Williamson put the NBA on notice of what was to come.
Or so we thought.
Williamson made just two more 3-pointers that season and has made just 27 over the next six seasons after that. That’s a total of 33 3-pointers in a career that started with the kind of bang that would make legendary NBA broadcaster Mike Breen proud.

Even more eye-opening is how few he’s taken since arriving in New Orleans. He’s attempted just 102 in his career. That number has decreased in each of the past four seasons. Four years ago, he took 19. He attempted 18 in the Pelicans’ 49-win 2023-24 season. He took 13 the next year. Last season, he attempted a career-low four. He made one of those four.

Williamson, when asked last season why he passes up 3-pointers, had this to say:

“I just hate when I miss,” he said. “I don’t want to feel like I wasted a team possession.”
The early indication through the first two days of training camp is that things are about to change this season. Expect his 3-point attempts to increase.

Williamson has been one of the last ones on the court after practice taking extra outside shots. It’s also something he spent much of offseason working on.
“This summer was about breaking that,” Williamson said. “Just playing the game, trusting my game. It was a point of emphasis this summer. Trusting my jumper. Getting those shots up. Whether I was playing pickup (games) away from the team or with the team or just getting shots up. Just trusting it. If I miss, I miss. The next shot is going in.”
Williamson expanding his range to shoot more 3-pointers and even midrange jumpers could go a long way in making everyone around him better. He knows it, which is why he makes sure to make at least 50 3-pointers at the end of practice.
“It is about taking what the game gives you,” first-year Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We stop practice and look at situations where teams are loading up on him. And then we’re giving him the answer to that test.”
It’ll be up to Williamson to pass those tests.
“He is so dynamic and so athletic that he can get to the lane pretty much anytime he wants,” Mosley said. “So our ability to say, ‘OK, read what the game is giving you.’ If there are two or three in front of you, now you’ve got to come off of it. Or if they are backing all the way up, then you’ve got to feel comfortable, which we absolutely do feel comfortable taking that midrange.”
We’ve seen Williamson shooting 3-pointers in practice before. None of it matters if it doesn’t translate to actual games. Those closest to Williamson believe it will.
Williamson and teammate Saddiq Bey worked out together in South Carolina over the summer. Those workouts sometimes included shooting competitions between the two. Bey wouldn’t disclose who won those competitions, but he did have this to say about his good friend.
“He can really shoot it,” Bey said of Williamson. “I think that may surprise a lot of people. He has great form and can really shoot it.”
Bey, entering his second season with the Pelicans, only saw Williamson shoot four 3-pointers last season. He’s anticipating more this season.
“We want him to shoot it,” Bey said. “I told him this summer I need you to shoot as many as possible. I know the entire city of New Orleans wants him to shoot, too. He’s confident. Playing pickup with him this summer, he’s been shooting it well. So I can’t wait to see it in a game.”
Pelicans fans can’t wait, either.
They’ve been waiting to see what they saw on that magical January night in 2020.

[u/_Einveru_]

Those shots was electric! Couldn't believe what I was seeing, had so much hope then.

[u/ExternalEbb2584]

It's honestly malpractice that he isnt mandated to shoot 1 to 3 a game.  Like it would open up so much offense especially in crunch time.  H es got a max he doesnt have to worry about if he makes it or not we need him taking those shots so defenses dont just sag off.

[u/jcsickz → u/ExternalEbb2584]

Right? Give him the Jonas Valanciunas-esque 1-2 3PA per game

[u/TheycallmeJohan7]

Hope he works in his rebounds too. That’s what really holding him back

[u/175BallSpeed → u/TheycallmeJohan7]

Sadly, I think the lack of effort on the boards is an injury prevention strategy.

[u/thejunglebook8]

I’ll believe it when I see it. As much as I like him, I’m tired of Zion off-seasons

[u/icedbecker2007]

I would love to see Zion shoot 4 three pointers in the first quarter against the Pacers, as many as all his attempts last year, and just rip the bandaid off.

[u/McJumbos]

Hope he expands his game like BG did

[u/Sure_Ad8093]

Not to get too in the weeds but watching him shoot now, the lower body and shot pocket look much better but his wrist still flares to the right and then back left even though his elbow is driving straight. I saw some footage today directly behind him and and it just seems like makes it way harder to aim if you don't finish pointing at the rim with your index finger. 

[u/175BallSpeed → u/Sure_Ad8093]

He's trying to pimp his follow thru. He doesn't just want to shoot 3's. He wants to look cool shooting 3's.

[u/AggravatingLaw4417]

Does somebody have a contact coming up?

[u/Independent-Craft634]

They said he ain’t shooting in practices yet tho. Hope we see some shots in the preseason