Zion Williamson
Age 26 · 6'6" · 284 lb · USA
Pick #1, 2019 Draft · Rookie 2020 · 277 games
DPM · #96 of 519
+1.2Historical comps
Comps & futures
The ten most similar player-seasons since 1996-97 at the same age, and what happened to them next.
| Comp | Age | DPM then | Next 5 seasons | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruben Patterson 2001-02 | 26 | +0.9 | +1.0, +0.9, +0.4, -0.5, +0.7 | 87 |
| Corey Maggette 2005-06 | 26 | +1.4 | +1.3, +1.3, -0.5, -0.9, -1.6 | 86 |
| Bonzi Wells 2001-02 | 25 | +1.0 | +0.4, -1.5, -0.9, +1.1, -0.7 | 83 |
| Vin Baker 1997-98 | 26 | +1.0 | +0.7, -0.2, -0.5, -1.3, -2.1 | 83 |
| Wally Szczerbiak 2002-03 | 26 | +1.0 | +1.2, +1.3, +1.3, -0.2, -0.3 | 83 |
| Amar'e Stoudemire 2008-09 | 26 | +2.3 | +2.7, +1.9, +0.3, -0.2, -1.0 | 83 |
| Montrezl Harrell 2019-20 | 26 | +0.6 | +0.5, +1.0, -0.8, under 10 games, under 10 games | 83 |
| Larry Hughes 2004-05 | 26 | +1.5 | +0.1, -0.1, -1.6, -2.1, -2.0 | 82 |
| Glenn Robinson 1998-99 | 26 | +2.1 | +0.7, +1.4, +0.9, -0.5, -0.9 | 82 |
| Josh Howard 2005-06 | 26 | +2.3 | +3.4, +2.1, +2.7, +0.5, -1.0 | 82 |
The 25 player-seasons since 1996-97 closest to Zion's 2026-27 at the same age: DPM and its offense/defense split, the two seasons before, box-score profile, height, experience and age. Each comp counts once, at his closest season, weighted by the match. Hover or focus a comp to trace his next five seasons. A website presentation, not a DARKO model output.
Around the league
Top 10 comps today
Current players closest to Zion Williamson's current profile, by DARKO ratings, age and projected box-score style.
- +1.2DPMDPM Offense +1.7 Defense -0.5 Per 100 possessions:31.7points8.7rebounds4.9assistsP/R/A100.0
- +1.2DPMDPM Offense +1.8 Defense -0.5 Per 100 possessions:31.3points8.4rebounds5.6assistsP/R/A89.3
- +1.7DPMDPM Offense +1.9 Defense -0.1 Per 100 possessions:31.4points8.3rebounds7.6assistsP/R/A84.4
- +1.2DPMDPM Offense +1.4 Defense -0.2 Per 100 possessions:34.7points10.6rebounds8.0assistsP/R/A84.3
- +1.9DPMDPM Offense +1.7 Defense +0.2 Per 100 possessions:29.7points7.9rebounds7.7assistsP/R/A81.4
- +0.4DPMDPM Offense +0.8 Defense -0.4 Per 100 possessions:29.8points7.9rebounds5.6assistsP/R/A81.0
- +1.4DPMDPM Offense +1.0 Defense +0.4 Per 100 possessions:24.9points10.4rebounds7.0assistsP/R/A80.7
- +1.0DPMDPM Offense +1.2 Defense -0.2 Per 100 possessions:27.6points12.4rebounds2.9assistsP/R/A80.7
- +0.8DPMDPM Offense +1.2 Defense -0.4 Per 100 possessions:30.9points13.6rebounds9.0assistsP/R/A80.6
- +1.5DPMDPM Offense +1.8 Defense -0.2 Per 100 possessions:33.0points9.1rebounds2.9assistsP/R/A80.3
How these matches work
Each player's latest published profile is compared with today's league. The score uses standardized differences in DPM, offense, defense, age, scoring, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, turnovers, three-point shot share and free-throw rate. DPM and age carry the most weight. Historical trajectory and a same-age cutoff are not used here.
100 is an identical profile, so a current player is his own first match. Scores fall by 8 points per unit of weighted distance, down to zero. This is a similarity index, not a probability. Box-score figures are projections per 100 possessions, so playing time does not distort the comparison.
Value
Contract & longevity
DARKO's fair salary from projected wins against Zion Williamson's salary, and the odds of still being on an NBA roster in each coming season.
- Fair value
- $34.9M
- DARKO's market estimate
- Salary
- $39.5M
- Actual
- Surplus
- -$4.6M
- Value minus salary
- WARP
- 6.3
- Wins above replacement
- Seasons left
- 4.2
- Projected, within 15
- Retires at
- 30.5
- Projected age
Career
Season by season
DPM going into each season's last game, since 1996-97.
| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | DPM | Off | Def | For his age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 so far | NOP | 26 | 1 | 32.1 | +1.48 | +1.97 | -0.49 | — |
| 2025-26 | NOP | 25 | 62 | 29.7 | +1.54 | +1.95 | -0.41 | 141st of 1077 |
| 2024-25 | NOP | 24 | 30 | 28.6 | +1.98 | +2.14 | -0.16 | 98th of 1185 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 23 | 70 | 31.5 | +1.96 | +2.15 | -0.19 | 75th of 1100 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 22 | 29 | 33.0 | +2.66 | +3.22 | -0.55 | 26th of 813 |
| 2021-22 | NOP | 21 | 0 | — | +2.80 | +3.75 | -0.95 | — |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 20 | 61 | 33.2 | +1.73 | +2.71 | -0.98 | 9th of 354 |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 20 | 24 | 27.8 | +1.03 | +2.41 | -1.38 | 22nd of 354 |
Games are regular season; +n are playoff games. "For his age" ranks the season's DPM among every season at the same age since 1996-97 with 20 or more games. A season's DPM opens the leaderboard on its last game day.
Projections
Projected box score
DARKO's per-100 projections, and per game at 30.1 projected minutes and a pace of 101.1.
| Stat | Per 100 | Per game |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 31.7 | 20.1 |
| Rebounds | 8.7 | 5.5 |
| Offensive | 3.0 | 1.9 |
| Defensive | 5.8 | 3.7 |
| Assists | 4.9 | 3.1 |
| Steals | 1.9 | 1.2 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Turnovers | 3.3 | 2.1 |
| 3-pt attempts | 2.0 | 1.3 |
| FG attempts | 20.4 | 12.9 |
| FT attempts | 10.8 | 6.8 |
| FG% · 3P% · FT% | 56.3% · 30.6% · 70.7% | |