PHOENIX SUNS

Duke forward Zion Williamson declares for 2019 NBA Draft

Apr 15, 2019, 3:31 PM | Updated: 3:31 pm

Duke forward and the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 in the 2019 NBA Draft Zion Williamson declared for the draft on Monday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

🔵Thank you Duke🔵#thebrotherhood

A post shared by Zion Williamson (@zionlw10) on

Williamson is highly thought of in NBA Draft circles, seen as one of the best prospects the process has seen in the last 25 years.

The 18-year-old freshman averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game on an absurd 68 percent field goal shooting.

Per Sports-Reference, Williamson is the third player in its database to post at least 20 points per game and 65 percent shooting from the field, joining Michael Beasley and Blake Griffin. Beasley was a junior while Griffin achieved it in his sophomore season.

With the qualifier of 22 points and eight rebounds per game as a freshman while being a first-round NBA Draft prospect, Williamson joins Beasley, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant.

Williamson and Nerlens Noel are the only freshmen in its database to produce Williamson’s block and steal averages.

The world finds out where Williamson will very likely start his NBA career on May 14 for the NBA’s Draft Lottery. The Phoenix Suns share the same best-possible odds at the No. 1 pick of 14 percent with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The NBA Draft is on June 20.

Phoenix Suns

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against T.J. Warren #21 of th...
Associated Press

NBA, players agree on new multi-year labor agreement with in-season tournament

The league and its players reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement Saturday, and ratification is expected to be a formality.
11 hours ago
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) motions after making a basket against the Denver Nuggets dur...
Kellan Olson

Durant returns to form, Suns drop level in win vs. shorthanded Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns had a great first half and a not so great second half on Friday in a win against the Denver Nuggets.
1 day ago
(Phoenix Suns Twitter photo)...
Wills Rice

Suns use early lead to hold on to win over injured Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Denver Nuggets 100-93 on Friday at Footprint center behind Kevin Durant's 30 points.
1 day ago
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives the lane as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis ...
Arizona Sports

Nikola Jokic, 3 other Nuggets out for clash vs. Suns

The Denver Nuggets list Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray among a group of key players as out on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.
1 day ago
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)...
Tom Kuebel

Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert fined for comments on officiating in Suns game

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was fined $25,000 for comments made that criticized officiating after the team's 107-100 loss to the Suns.
1 day ago
(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)...
Arizona Sports

How to watch the Suns, D-backs and Coyotes on Friday

It's going to be a busy night of athletics to end March with three of the Valley's four major sports teams in action on Friday.
1 day ago
Duke forward Zion Williamson declares for 2019 NBA Draft