CHICAGO — United Center rims proved to be no match for rookie Zion Williamson.
After catching a lob pass from USA teammate Trae Young in Friday night’s Rising Stars Challenge game, Williamson slammed down a two-handed jam that caused the rim to bend.
At halftime, spading experts had to bring out a ladder and readjust the basket to its proper alignment. That’s the force of a 284-pound player that posted a 45 inch vertical in college.
It wasn’t Williamson’s only gawk-worthy dunk of the night that brought the crowd to its feet. He wowed fans and left the backboard shaking with a dunk after a between-the-legs pass from teammate Ja Morant.
With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Williamson had scored 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes of play. Five of Williamson’s seven field goals have been dunks.