JJ Redick: Zion Williamson Is A Future MVP

But not just because he is overpowering physically.

JJ Redick dropped in on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, What’s In Your Glass, and spoke a bit about two wildly gifted young NBA players, Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic.

Here’s what he said about his fellow former Blue Devil and former New Orleans Pelican teammate Zion Williamson:

“I think both those guys have the potential to be an MVP, be the best player in the league one day. Zion is special because his game is so different. Zion’s game is, ‘I’m going to line you up, and I’m going to bully you and I’m going to bet that you cannot stop me from making a layup.’ Think about that.”

Ok, we did it: we thought about it. And he’s right.

But you can expand on that and add this: Williamson is physically and mentally superior to most players. So if you try to double or triple team him, he’s just going to find an open guy and get him the ball.

For all of his spectacular talent, what really makes Williamson great isn’t that he can play bully ball.

It’s that as you take things away from him he recognizes the other options and finds other ways for his team to score. He’s never been selfish.

And secondary to that, the guy really wants everyone to feel included. So in a sense, overloading the defense feeds into that mentality.

Gonna double down on me? Fine. Jose’s a rookie. He could use a confidence booster. Take THAT!

And that, as much as his unique body and talent, is what makes Williamson special.

By the way, that Jose is Georgia Tech’s Jose Alvarado, who has scrapped and fought his way to the NBA. We didn’t think he could but we’re thrilled to see him still fighting. That guy honors the game every second he plays.