2019 NBA Mock Draft: Re-evaluating the top prospects

It was peculiar to go back and watch an early-season Williamson performance when his dominance was not as consistent and Duke had not yet figured out he would be their lead dog. That would come later in the Maui Jim tournament, after RJ Barrett’s infamous flameout late in a loss to Gonzaga.

Against Auburn, Williamson was often a third or fourth option offensively. His impact showed up more on the other end, where he stamped out a late Tiger run to cement Duke’s victory over an eventual Final Four Auburn squad.

A few takeaways from Williamson’s performance against the Tigers:

• A problem that cropped up for Williamson throughout the year was more prevalent in this early-season game against a fast, athletic team: His handle. Williamson lost his dribble at least three times against routine man-to-man defense, most often when he was facing a smaller defender. You could see Williamson being someone who is fairly turnover-prone as a rookie.
• The scouting opportunity of seeing Williamson against Auburn’s Chuma Okeke was fantastic. Williamson is bigger and stronger, but Okeke has the size and athleticism to hold up better than most college players against the presumptive No. 1 overall pick.
• Auburn consistently went to a pick-and-pop to get Williamson out of the play defensively, and Okeke made him pay when Williamson got in his grill. Okeke blew past Williamson for a layup in the first half and later on, wiggled in for a putback off his own 3-point miss.
• Williamson adjusted as the game went on and Duke started to switch the pick-and-pop, leaving Williamson on point guard Jared Harper. That went resoundingly in Duke’s favor. Harper couldn’t get an inch of space on Williamson and got a 3 swatted across the court in the waning minutes of Auburn’s final push.

Nothing to see here if you’re trying to find evidence Williamson will be anything other than the top overall pick in June.

Check out our full scouting report on Zion Williamson.