Duke Blue Devils superstar Zion Williamson is the overwhelming favorite to be selected with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft and sign massive contracts in a few months’ time, and after a freak shoe blowout in Wednesday’s Duke-UNC game led to a knee injury, many players, fans and analysts are urging Williamson to protect himself by sitting out the rest of the year.
Williamson suffered a “mild knee sprain” according to coach Mike Krzyzewski, but his potential timetable for a return is unknown. On Thursday, Warriors star DeMarcus Cousins advised Williamson to make the right choice for his future – which means walking away from his teammates.
“Knowing what I know now? College is [expletive]. College basketball, the NCAA is [expletive]. My advice for him is do what’s best for you and your family. Obviously college isn’t. It does nothing for you at this point. You’ve proven you’re the No. 1 pick coming out, you’ve proven your talent. Get ready for the next level, because it’s happening. That’s my opinion, knowing what I know now.
Obviously when I was at that age, you know, you enjoy the moment, you enjoy the experience and all that. But it’s so many risks involved to get to the ultimate goal, which is this level.”
Cousins called his own college career “some of the best years of my life,” but ripped the “crooked” NCAA.
DeMarcus Cousins: “I loved my experience in college, that was some of the best years of my life playing basketball. But with that being said, just how crooked the whole NCAA business is.
I saw a post the other day where it was I think the highest ticket for that UNC-Duke game was $2,500, $3,500?”
Reporter: “That was like the lowest.”
DeMarcus Cousins: “How much does Zion Williamson get? That’s who they’re coming to see. So how much does he get? Actually, who does it go to? How does it benefit any player on that team? But if they were to get $20 and a free meal, they’re this bad kid. They get a bad rep. ‘Uncoachable.’ They’re ‘thugs.’ Whatever the case may be. It’s [expletive].”
