In the NBA, there is always a story of a rising star who is completely suppressed when he plays against his idol. This scene played out again in a Lakers vs Pelicans game in the 2023-2024 season. The rookie is none other than Zion Willems, the 2019 No. 1 pick.
In this match, 39-year-old James LeBron, with his excellent defense, almost completely blocked Zion's offense. In an interview after the game, Zion, who has always been full of confidence, couldn't hide his helplessness: "He's really too strong, I really can't do anything about it, I don't even know how to score in front of him, he defends me so much that I can't play."
What's even more surprising is that Zion actually suggested that the NBA should conduct a urine test on James, saying that "it seems a little abnormal to be so fierce at 39 years old." This straightforward remark can't help but make people feel a little "out of line". After all, in a league that is guided by respect for seniors, it's rare for a rookie to publicly criticize a superstar and allude to "cheating."
However, it also highlights that as a talented rookie, Zion is facing a sense of helplessness and frustration inside. His inability to perform at the level he should have in front of his idols has undoubtedly hit his self-confidence. But the good news is that Zion didn't give up, but said that he wanted to find a way to score easily in front of James, and even hoped that the coach could help him study a coping strategy. This kind of enterprising spirit is exactly what a rookie should have.
As the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, Zion Willems has long been seen as the next superstar of the NBA. He has excellent physical attributes, excellent offensive skills, and an excellent basketball IQ, and is considered to be on an equal footing with superstars such as James and Curry in the future.
But in this game, Zion was completely overpowered by James, scoring just 12 points. This is obviously a significant gap from his usual level. In the post-match interview, there was too much helplessness and fear in his words: "He's really too strong, I really can't do anything about it, I don't even know how to score in front of him, he defends me so much that I can't play."
This feeling of helplessness suppressed by a superstar is undoubtedly a huge blow to a rookie. As the future star of the Alliance, Zion deserves to have strong self-confidence and determination. But in front of a historical superstar like James, he still looks a little immature and weak.
But the good news is that Zion didn't choose to run away and give up. On the contrary, he said in the interview that he must find a way to score easily in front of James in the future, and even hopes that the coach can help him study coping strategies. This proactive attitude undoubtedly shows the enterprising spirit that a rookie should have.
From fear to challenge, this is undoubtedly an important step in Zion's growth. He realized that in order to become a true superstar, he had to be able to beat the greatest players of his generation. And this requires him to continue to learn, improve, and surpass himself.
Zion's questioning of James's "it seems a little abnormal that he can be so fierce at 39 years old" has undoubtedly sparked widespread discussion. As a 39-year-old veteran, James can still continue to perform at such a high level on the court, which really makes one wonder if there is any special reason.
First of all, we have to admit that James is indeed a talented player. He has excellent physical fitness, solid fundamentals, and an excellent basketball IQ that ordinary players cannot match. This, combined with the wealth of experience he has accumulated over the years, has made his decision-making and execution on the field almost perfect.
But that alone doesn't explain why James is still in such good shape at the age of 39. The point is that James has always placed a high value on his body management and training. He has strict requirements for diet, rest and recovery, which keeps him in the best physical condition.
James is also adept at studying his opponents and developing targeted tactics. He was able to make the most of his strengths and limit his opponent's play as much as possible while creating chances subtly. This excellent tactical literacy is also the key to James' ability to remain dominant in his later years.
Of course, we can't ignore the factor of luck. To be able to maintain such a good condition at such an advanced age often requires a certain element of luck. James has been able to avoid major injuries in his career, which is undoubtedly a big reason why he has stayed in peak form.
To sum up, James's ability to maintain such an excellent form at the age of 39 is not only related to his talent and hard work, but also to the importance he attaches to his own management. And that's exactly what Zion needs to learn and learn.
As the 2019 No. 1 pick, Zion had high hopes to become the NBA's next superstar. But in this game, he was completely suppressed by James, scoring only 12 points. This sense of helplessness suppressed by a historical superstar undoubtedly impacted Zion's self-confidence.
But we must recognize that James has been in the league for nearly 20 seasons as an NBA-time superstar. His experience, intelligence and physical prowess are undoubtedly hard for a rookie to achieve. This gap is the root of the wonderful matchup.
In such a matchup, we can not only witness the growth of a young star, but also the ageless legend of a great star. James' outstanding performance not only confirmed his extraordinary ability, but also solved the puzzle of how to maintain a high level of performance in the latter stages of his career.
Maybe one day in the future, when Zion finally surpasses James and becomes the new king of the league, he will look back on this game, feel his helplessness at that time, and sincerely thank James for the inspiration and encouragement he has given.
As James learned from Kobe Bryant back then, the rise of each generation of stars needs the guidance and help of their predecessors. It is only through this "inheritance" that the NBA's basketball culture can continue to be inherited and developed. And this is the deeper meaning of this matchup.
From fear to challenge, Zion has a long way to go. But it is precisely because of this experience that he can better recognize his own shortcomings, and constantly improve himself, surpass his idols, and pursue a higher peak. This kind of growth motivation is exactly the quality that a rookie should have.
When James retired, the time of his disciple Zion came. This is not only the replacement of a generation of stars, but also the inheritance and development of basketball culture. We believe that in the near future, Zion will become the new basketball superstar and lead the rise of the NBA in the next era.