KD calls Zion ‘one of one’ ahead of Pels-Nets tilt

Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant studies the game and its history as much as any top player in the NBA today. That’s why his praise of New Orleans Pelicans young forward Zion Williamson as a “one of one”-type of talent speaks volumes about the kind of ability he believes the 22-year-old possesses.

“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 after Monday’s practice. “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. And when you add that to the mix, it makes him a one of one.”

The Nets play against Williamson and the Pelicans in their regular-season opener Wednesday night at Barclays Center. Despite the fact that Williamson hasn’t played since May 4, 2021, and sat out the entire 2021-22 season because of a right foot injury, Durant is still expecting Williamson to play at a high level.

“Excitement,” Durant said of Williamson being back on the floor. “Athleticism. Somebody that can put up points pretty fast. It’s a matchup problem for a lot of people, so we got our work cut out [with] him, and then you got two other scorers behind him [in Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum] that can score from all levels. So we got our work cut out for us, but it’s going to be exciting times when guys get healthy, especially the marquee guys in this league.”

Williamson sat out the Pelicans’ final preseason game last week because of an ankle injury, but the Nets are preparing as if he’ll play on Wednesday.

“I guess there is some trickiness to it — which Zion do you get?” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “But I think you’d be foolish not to expect an exceptional player. He’s so talented and gifted. He causes problems for everybody, no matter, I think, what state his body and game is in. He’s still such a unique athlete and player. So we got to be prepared. We can’t expect anything less than his best or we’ll be surprised and we’ll be second, and when you’re reactive, you’re in trouble.”

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