Zion Williamson’s injury was an opportunity, or at least it was made to be one by NBA players and critics of the NCAA.
The Duke star could sit out the rest of the year instead of playing for the Blue Devils, taking the time to heal the knee he sprained against North Carolina and avoiding the risk of another, more major injury so he doesn’t lose the millions he’s about to earn.
That’s not what Williamson chose. On Thursday night, he returned for Duke and put together an unbelievable line: A perfect 13-of-13 from the field, 29 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and two blocks in an ACC tournament win over Syracuse.
His skill set, size and explosiveness that helped him put together that game already cemented his status as the top NBA selection later this year. But it was his choice in returning and the way he talked about it that proves there’s more to him than just his on-court abilities.
Listen to what he said in this taped pre-game interview:
“For the people that think I should just stop playing in college and just focus on the NBA: thanks, but no thanks. I’m not really worried about that. I’m just trying to be Zion and play the game I love. …
You’ll never be forgotten if you win a national championship.”
There’s this postgame interview too:
You could cynically say it’s athlete speak, with Williamson saying all the right things with microphones on him. But his return is what speaks volumes and proves his quotes show who he really is.
By sitting out, he could have shown the world he was focused on his future money. But he wants to be a good teammate, finish what he started and be remembered for winning a title at the collegiate level.
Isn’t that what an NBA team wants? Someone who loves the game, who wants to do right by his teammates, who blocks out all the noise around him and just plays.
It’s just another reason he’s a future NBA star.
