Zion Williamson, a rising star in the NBA, claims that 80% of the league’s players secretly enjoy anime.
Zion Williamson, a rising star in the NBA: Over the years, anime has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Japanese animation has millions of fans all over the world thanks to its high-quality production values, a wide range of genres, and a large amount of content. Zion Williamson, who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, says that there are a lot of anime fans in the NBA and that most athletes are secret fans.
Williamson told GQ that around 80% of NBA players keep their love of Japanese art a secret. He talked about how much he liked the Naruto anime series and how it had changed his life. Shonen anime and manga, which are primarily for young men, are very popular. This is because the formulaic story of the main character trying to become the best (like no one has ever been) at what they do connects with many players.
The GQ Article
“Zion estimates that around 80% of players in the league are into anime; they just won’t admit it,” the GQ article reads. “Those familiar with the conventions of the form know that it would be hard to craft a genre better suited to professional athletes. They’re long-form stories about what it takes to be The Best, not incidentally, the same goal that drives athletes.”
For anime fans, 2022 is a year that will help put Japanese animation on the map of popular culture. The new Dragon Ball Super movie is getting great reviews at the box office, Spy X Family is one of the most popular shows of the year, and recent seasons of Mob Psycho 100 and Bleach are coming up. When you add in other series like My Dress Up Darling, a new version of Tekken, and the latest arc of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, the year has been a great one for new and old releases.
Even video games can’t resist the allure of anime. Fortnite just added a Dragon Ball crossover, and players dressed as Goku and Vegeta have taken over the map of one of the most popular games in the world.