By Nick Forbes, Managing Editor of Content
On the night of Feb. 20, the entire basketball world collectively held their breath as Duke freshman phenom Zion Williamson went down with an apparent knee injury.
Just 33 seconds into the highly anticipated rivalry game between Duke and University of North Carolina, the 6 feet 7 inches, 285 pound forward attempted a spin move when his left foot went clean through the sole of his shoe. The sudden loss of traction caused Williamson’s right knee to buckle and he subsequently sat out for the rest of the game.
Williamson captivated the basketball world long before he stepped on campus at Duke. His highlight tapes from his high school days in Spartanburg, S.C. went viral, for the sheer size and athleticism that Zion displayed.
Fast forward to February; Zion has become a superstar at Duke, leading them to a 23-3 record in just his freshman year.
According to NBA scouts, it is all but certain that he will be selected first in the NBA draft this coming June.
So this is where the decision comes in; Zion is currently listed as “day-to-day” according to Duke Athletics, which means he could play again this season, but does he really want to risk a more serious injury when he has pretty much locked up the top spot in the NBA draft?
This isn’t the first time the sports world has had this debate, but it’s the first time we’ve seen an athlete quite like Zion. His enormous build belies the ball handling skills he possesses.
At the time of writing this, Duke is listed as the No. 1 team in the nation according to the NCAA, thanks in no small part to Williamson.
Duke will partake in the NCAA March Madness tournament this month, and one would assume that the competitor in Zion will want to play his hardest, help his team win and soak up all the unforgettable moments that come with the tournament.
But at the same time, Zion won’t make a single dime from playing basketball until he signs his first NBA contract. So will the bright lights of March outweigh the financial promise of the NBA? The basketball world will have to wait and see.
