Zion Williamson's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Zion Williamson. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Zion Williamson is a prominent American professional basketball player currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA as a power forward. After a single season with Duke University, he was drafted first overall by the Pelicans in the 2019 NBA draft. Williamson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020. In 2021, he distinguished himself further by becoming the fourth-youngest player ever selected for the NBA All-Star game, solidifying his status as a rising star in the league.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1983: Comparison to Michael Jordan

Zion Williamson's performance during his rookie season was compared to Michael Jordan, logging the highest scoring average through his first 24 career NBA games since Jordan in 1983.

1992: Comparison to Christian Laettner

In March 2019, after recording 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game, Zion Williamson became the first Duke player to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game since Christian Laettner did so in 1992.

2017: High School Season Honors

For his 2017-18 high school season, Zion Williamson was named to the USA Today All-USA first team and MaxPreps All-American second team, recognizing his exceptional performance.

November 6, 2018: Duke Debut

On November 6, 2018, in his first regular season game with Duke, Zion Williamson scored 28 points in a 118-84 win over Kentucky at the Champions Classic, breaking the Duke freshman debut scoring record along with teammate RJ Barrett.

January 2019: Freshman Scoring Record

In January 2019, during his freshman season with Duke, Zion Williamson set the single-game school scoring record for freshmen, marking an impressive achievement.

February 4, 2019: ACC Freshman of the Week & National Player of the Week

On February 4, 2019, Zion Williamson was named ACC Freshman of the Week for the fourth time and also earned the National Player of the Week distinction from the Naismith Trophy.

2020: NBA All-Rookie First Team

In 2020, Zion Williamson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, recognizing his outstanding performance during his first year in the league.

February 12, 2021: Career High 36 points against Dallas Mavericks

On February 12, 2021, Zion Williamson scored a then career high 36 points in a 143–130 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the game on 14-of-15 shooting from the field, making him the youngest player in NBA history with 30 points on 90 percent shooting.

February 23, 2021: NBA All-Star Game Selection

On February 23, 2021, Zion Williamson was selected into his first NBA All-Star Game.

2021: NBA All-Star Selection

In 2021, Zion Williamson became the fourth youngest NBA player to be selected for an All-Star game, highlighting his rising status in the league.

January 26, 2023: Selected for Second NBA All-Star Appearance

On January 26, 2023, Zion Williamson was selected for his second NBA All-Star appearance, but was later replaced by Anthony Edwards due to his injury.