The 2022-23 NBA season will tip off with a bang on Wednesday night as the Brooklyn Nets and the New Orleans Pelicans face off, pitting NBA stars Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson against each other. And while Durant will be competing against Williamson on the court, he has a lot of respect for his talent.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s game, Durant praised the young player for his unique athleticism given his size, calling him “a one-of-one.”
“You’ve seen guys at that size, 6-7, that can get up and down the floor and move; but not at that level, though,” Durant said according to the New York Post. “You’ve seen guys like Jason Maxiell. I’m not saying they jump as high as Zion, but they were undersized guys that played bigger. And Zion’s one of those guys.
“Rodney Rogers — I’m missing so many guys that were that tall at 6-6, Charles Barkley, bruiser-type guys but played bigger. But Zion’s athleticism trumps all of theirs by far. When you add that to the mix, it makes him a one-of-one.”
That’s obviously high praise coming from one of the most prolific players in the game. Williamson will try to live up to Durant’s lofty words during Wednesday night’s game and throughout the rest of the season.
