Freshman sensation Zion Williamson, who will likely be the number one pick in this year’s NBA draft, returned to the floor on Thursday night after suffering a Grade 1 MCL sprain in Duke’s game against North Carolina on Feb. 20.
Notably, Williamson’s Nike PG 2.5’s exploded in the early minutes of the game, resulting in the injury.
Now, Williamson will be wearing custom-made Kyrie 4s, another signature Nike shoe. Upon learning that Williamson would be wearing his shoe, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving had a gracious response though humorously making sure to endorse Nike.
Following the win over Syracuse on Thursday, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters that Nike flew out their “top people” to meet with him and Williamson the day after his shoe blew out, resulting in the injury to his knee. Krzyzewski also mentioned that the same representatives traveled to China “to oversee the manufacturing of a stronger, more stable shoe” before returning to Duke a week later with new shoes for Williamson.
Those new shoes may have not have helped Williamson on the court Thursday night but they certainly didn’t hurt him, as he went 13-for-13 from the field. He finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds, five steals, two assists and one block in the Blue Devils’ win against Syracuse in the ACC Tournament.
