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Built like Bo Jackson but windmilling like ‘Nique and VC, Zion Williamson is a sports specimen that the basketball world has really never seen. An outlier in an era of lanky tweeners with outside-in games, the high school hero from South Carolina has become a force on the floor thanks to his God given talents and a sensation on YouTube due to his straight up scary dunks.
More than that, he’s a nice kid. Following up a headlining debut at adidas Uprising in Fort Worth that saw Coach K, Bill Self, Hubert Davis and Frank Martin all in attendance, the undeclared prospect was all business on the court as the crowd clamored for highlights and demanded dunks with their cell phones at hand. A crowd pleaser by nature but a team player at heart, the rising star was all smiles postgame as we chopped it up about his adidas heavy sneaker rotation and favorite pre-game music. Hear what he had to say below.
Nice Kicks: What went into picking the adidas Harden Vol 1 for tonight’s run?
Zion Williamson: I’ve been wearing Hardens since the high school season started in November. I had the Black/White ones — the first drop — and they just always felt so comfortable to me. I love Hardens.
Nice Kicks: Are you a fan of his game?
Zion Williamson: Yessir!
Nice Kicks: Which players would you say you model your game off?
Zion Williamson: Any good player. I try to take all the good players and combine them into one game. LeBron, Kobe, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Westbrook, I just try to combine them into one game.
Nice Kicks: Watching the playoffs, whose games are you paying particular attention to right now?
Zion Williamson: Three players: LeBron, Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard. LeBron because he’s an amazing all-around player, Westbrook because of the energy he brings to the game and Leonard because I love the way he plays. He just handles his business.
Nice Kicks: Aside from the Hardens, what kicks are you rocking on and off court these days?
Zion Williamson: To be honest, I’m like strictly adidas — on and off the court. Whenever I have the chance, I always wear adidas walk around shoes. I love the Ultra Boost and I have three pairs of Yeezys but you can’t bring those out here! [Laughs]
Nice Kicks: On the Yeezy subject, what are you listening to before games out here?
Zion Williamson: You know me, I gotta go with my boy Drake. Drake and J Cole! My favorite song off More Life is “Gyalchester” and off Cole the outro — that was a deep song.
Feds in the City hate to see us on a high note. ??????????????????????
Special thanks to adidas and good luck to Zion as he picks a school. Check out highlights of Zion from our friends at Ball is Life in the video below.
adidas Uprising photography by Todd Burandt for adidas
