Blue Devil Country

New Photos of Duke Basketball Product Zion Williamson Look Ridiculous

The former Duke basketball one-and-done might be ready to run through several brick walls.

Matt Giles

New Photos of Duke Basketball Product Zion Williamson Look Ridiculous
New Photos of Duke Basketball Product Zion Williamson Look Ridiculous /
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When healthy, Duke basketball great and fifth-year New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson borders on unstoppable. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound bulldozer has averaged 25.8 points per game for his career, not to mention 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists, all while shooting 60.5 percent from the field.

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Consider that no other player in NBA history has averaged over 25 points in a career while shooting over 60 percent. And only one other player, Boston Celtics legend Kevin McHale, has done so in a single season.

But although Williamson achieved that feat again last season on his way to becoming a second-time NBA All-Star, the former No. 1 overall draft pick out of Duke played in only 29 games and sat out the team's last 45 outings due to injury. Moreover, that was after he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign.

Now, though, as pictures from a New Orleans Pelicans offseason workout show, Williamson looks more chiseled than ever and perhaps ready to silence the critics once and for all. One thing's for sure: defenders should think twice before attempting to draw a charge on this 23-year-old grown man:

Here are a few more photos of Williamson, boasting arguably more potential than any of the other roughly two dozen active NBA Blue Devils, that surfaced Friday on social media:

Even with Zion Williamson's frequent injury woes — note that he and the Pelicans' other young Duke basketball centerpiece, 25-year-old forward Brandon Ingram, have played only 12 games together across the past two seasons — New Orleans has appeared on the cusp of becoming a contender.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

The squad finished 42-40, despite a midseason 10-game losing streak, and came up one Play-In Tournament win shy of a berth in the NBA Playoffs.

Just imagine what could happen with an entire season of a healthy Zion Williamson.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for daily doses of Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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