2025-26 Season
ZION WILLIAMSON
2025-26 Season
ZION WILLIAMSON
Williamson produces at an elite rate for a 30-minute workload.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 16 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 227 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
A mid-season demotion to the bench sparked a terrifying resurgence in Zion Williamson's physical dominance. Early in the year, his sheer scoring production often masked hidden costs. Look no further than 10/31 vs LAC, where he poured in 29 points but managed a meager +1.4 impact because significant defensive liabilities bled points on the other end. Conversely, he occasionally generated positive value despite bizarrely passive offensive showings. On 10/29 vs DEN, he scored just 11 points, yet salvaged a +4.6 impact through a massive +9.0 defensive rating that kept his team afloat. Moving to the second unit in December temporarily unlocked a different gear. Coming off the bench on 12/20 vs IND, his unstoppable downhill momentum generated a staggering +19.0 impact alongside 29 points. By the time he reclaimed his starting job, he was utterly dismantling interior defenses, peaking on 01/02 vs POR with an absurd +24.6 impact driven by absolute paint dominance.
This twenty-game stretch was defined by maddening volatility, swinging wildly between unstoppable interior dominance and baffling bouts of passivity. When Zion decided to physically overwhelm his matchups, the results were devastating. Look at the 01/09 vs WAS contest, where he bullied his way to 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting, generating a massive +17.8 impact score simply by refusing to settle. Yet, raw point totals often masked deeper flaws in his offensive approach. During the 02/04 vs MIL matchup, he dropped 20 points but suffered a brutal -5.4 impact because offensive fouls and sloppy ball security in heavy traffic dragged his net score into the red. Even worse were the nights he completely vanished from the game plan. His performance on 01/21 vs DET was a glaring example, as a shocking lack of aggression in the paint resulted in just 4 points and a -4.8 impact rating. He remains a terrifying force of nature going downhill, but his overall effectiveness plummets the moment he stops dictating the physical terms of engagement.
This stretch was defined by sheer physical terror in the paint, as Zion Williamson spent weeks bullying defenders before hitting a late-season wall of stagnation. During the 02/26 vs UTA matchup, he posted a relatively modest 20 points but generated a staggering +14.3 impact score. That massive rating was driven entirely by high-activity hustle plays (+6.5 hustle score) and elite defensive metrics rather than raw scoring volume. However, his brute strength couldn't always hide his flaws. On 03/11 vs TOR, despite an efficient 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, he logged a -1.9 impact because glaring defensive lapses completely dragged down his overall value. By the close of this run, the physical toll caught up to him. On 04/03 vs SAC, his rating plummeted to a -6.7 impact. Stagnant offensive possessions and a total inability to generate his usual downhill momentum turned the star forward into a passive bystander.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Very consistent. Williamson posts positive impact in 75% of games — you almost always get a productive night. Scoring varies by ~7 points, but the overall contribution stays positive.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 90% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. Williamson consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 12 games. Longest cold streak: 3 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 61 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
60 games played