Zion Williamson has been one of the biggest storylines this season. Whether it is if he is the next LeBron James or the next NBA bust, the Duke prospect has been in the news. When he finally saw his first minutes of NBA action, he proved that he belonged with the pros. However, he has already been given a premature coronation. While Damian Lillard got the cover of the main NBA 2K21 cover and the late Kobe Bryant got the Legends Edition, 2K went with Zion for the Next Gen edition. While Williamson possesses a ton of potential, 2K got this one wrong.
Why Zion Williamson Should Not Have Gotten the 2K21 Cover
Zion’s Limited Sample Size
It is important to note that Williamson has only played a total of 19 games. Granted, he did average 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in these games. However, that is simply not enough to warrant the cover of one of the most noteworthy sports video games out right now. It is especially not fair to other young and rising stars who have played the majority of the season and are more deserving. Who may these players be you may ask? Well, without further adieu, let’s take a look at other players who would have been better choices for the 2K21 Next Gen cover.
Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum officially evolved into a true superstar this season. After being a promising young prospect for the last couple of years, Tatum finally made the next step in his development. He made his first All-Star Team and looks to be the new first option for the Boston Celtics. A team who are contenders in the Eastern Conference. Tatum is tallying career-highs across the board this year. He is averaging 23.6 points, 1.4 steals, 2.9 assists, and 7.1 rebounds while shooting an effective field goal percentage of 52.3 percent. Tatum looks to be the next premier wing in this league and would have been a terrific option as the Next Gen cover athlete.
Ja Morant
Ja Morant will most likely win the Rookie of the Year Award. Morant has the Grizzlies in the playoff picture despite NBA peers having little to no confidence in the young team coming into the season. Much of this success can be attributed to the leadership and surprising development of Morant. Despite being a rookie, Morant has quickly solidified himself as the leader of the Memphis Grizzlies. So far, he is averaging numbers of 17.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting an effective field goal percentage of 52.3 percent. Ja would have been a suitable choice with him being the imminent Rookie of the Year.
Trae Young
Trae Young is cursed with always being compared to his draft counterpart, Luka Doncic. However, Young has proved in his second season he is as legitimate as they come. Like Tatum, he made his first All-Star Team despite being on a poor Atlanta Hawks squad. Young has been compared to Stephen Curry due to his ability to shoot from anywhere on the court and his savvy playmaking ability. This year, he has totals of 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and an effective field goal percentage of 51.9 percent. Despite being on a weaker team, Trae Young would have been another better option for the 2K cover.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, Zion Williamson does look to have the makings of a superstar. However, he should not have been gifted the 2K21 cover for only 19 games played. The other three young star players were much more deserving of the spot. Not to mention, the numbers (and the number of games played compared to Zion’s) reflect this sentiment. Not only is this a bad look for 2K, but it also does Zion a disservice of always being knowns for the wrong reason when it comes to 2K. Plus, it sets a bad precedent for other up and coming talents in the coming years. Hopefully, 2K is better with their selection process next season for the Next Gen cover.
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