[IlladelphParticipant]

Simply put, Zion should shut it down for the rest of the season.  He is not your typical one-and-done talent.  He is a superstar whose destiny is way, way, bigger than a college basketball season.  He is the type of talent that should not really even be in college.  He should have been able to go straight to the NBA.  

After injuring his knee last night in a weird Nike basketball shoe blowout injury, it should be obvious that for Zion Williamson, the one-and-done rule is ridiculous.  There is not one NBA GM on the planet who needs to see Zion play more ball to be convinced that he will be an NBA star.  The only people who still want Zion to play are Duke basketball fans, and Coach K.  If you really are a basketball fan, and reall are a Zion fan, then you will see how ridiculous it is for Zion to continue playing college ball at this point.  He should shut it down, and get healthy, and train for the draft.  Worst-case scenario is that he gets drafted in the lottery, makes a few million from his rookie contract and is injury prone for a few years into his second contract and is forced to retire.  Best case scenario is that he become the NBA superstar that we all hope he becomes.  If he stays playing college basketball, and sustains a serious injury, that could cut his NBA career really short.  A recent example would be Harry Giles.  Giles went from #1 high school player hype to playing hurt in college, to becoming an NBA footnote.  Zion is of course on a different level altogether, and that is why he should defintiely shut it down and focus on getting healthy, and the NBA draft.  If he comes back to play college ball and gets hurt again, more seriously, that would be tragic.

[The GoatParticipant]

Absolutely Zion should be done. Hes much worse off than Giles if he gets hurt. Giles is considerably taller and had a more well rounded game including great passing for a big. It’s taken him years and he’s still not a patch on what he could’ve been. Zions game is virtually all based around that explosive leap. If he is injured to the level Giles was, I think Giles ends up the far better pro. He should just go lift weights for 6 months and rock into the league at 350. It’d be like a flying bus coming down the lane.

[Arc12345Participant]

Something has to give with this system. He should absolutely shut it down.

I don’t know what the answer is, but having these players make millions for the NCAA and get a free education in return is simply not fair. When they are good enough to be making millions themselves, it not right. So you can go die for your country and go to war, but you can’t play professional basketball in the NBA? How does that make any sense?

There should be nothing prohibiting 18 year olds from going to play in the NBA if they have the talent to do so.

Europe will always be an alternative, but it’s simply not as attractive as being able to make the jump directly. It’s also more difficult to make yourself seen and scouted unfortunately. Excited to see what really becomes of the new draft rules in the next few years and then after that.

[BeardedDragon84Participant]

 "Having these players make millions for the NCAA and get a free education in return is simply not fair."

That’s the thing, it is fair. Or atleast it was. The NCAA makes ridiculous amounts now, but the main thing is that the top players dont want an education, and most show up to class just enough to skate by until their games stop, and then they leave campus to prepare for the draft.

Honestly, and I know I’m in the minority, I think they didnt go far enough. Make it age 20 or 21 to be allowed into the league. You dont want to stay in America, be the big man on campus with a ton of coeds, grow into a more complete player and mature physically emotionally and intellectually before becoming a professional? Then there are other countries you can travel to, make money for your family, learn different styles of play, and still mature.

That would do wonders for growing the game outside of the NBA, which in the end is better for the NBA, and when these guys get to the draft they will be more skilled, more prepared for the life they are about to lead. The product on the court will be better. Because the main reason they created the one and done rule is to protect GMs from themselves. Yeah Lebron was ready, but there were a lot of Robert Swift’s too. Guys who destroyed the high school ranks due to thier height and athleticism, were taken high, and then thier NBA coach had to teach fundamentals to a 17 yr old that has the weight of all the fans of a major US city on his shoulders. And then they get labeled a bust because they cant beat out a journeyman player with 10 years more experience than them for minutes.

I know the double draft is coming, but be prepared for some busts more often too.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Say he gets a Gordon Heyward injury? Not smart. F+%ck duke man. This kid needs to call it a season. He does not owe anyone anything. His family should tell him,son shut it down. It’s not wise at all. He stands to lose way 2 much.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 Shut it down..floor seats were selling for near 10K last night for this game..Coach K getting 5 mill plus a season, how is this helping Zion? College Sports is a business so treat it like one..

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Well. I think that is up to Zion first and foremost. I’m sure they will be cautious, but if the injury is not serious it’s hard to see someone as competitive as Zion just deciding to shut it down for the season when the team is in the hunt for the national title. 

I’m not saying I don’t understand the argument from a financial perspective and it’s not like he owes duke or the ncaa anything, but as just a fan of basketball it would be a shame not to see him suit up in the ncaa tourney at least once.

 

  

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I think he enjoys playing at Duke and wants to win. He will probably try to return.

First thing he should do is find some new shoes.

[timinator1Participant]

Agreed, he has nothing to prove. But he’s a basketball player, and a competitor. He’s the most famous athlete in America right now. I think it sets a terrible precedent for modern collegiate athletes if he shuts it down. If we play this out, what’s next? Do Cam Reddish, Romeo Langford, Ja Morant and RJ all shut it down, since we’ve seen enough of them to get them their money and we don’t want to risk anything?

Is it a season, a competition, or is it an audition? 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Meanwhile in the NBA the New Orleans Pelicans are negotiating with the league to shut down Anthony Davis as it is in all three parties "best interest" to sit him out for the rest of the year. In this case Zion sitting out only benefits Zion if thats his perception of the situation, the NCAAB and Duke both have nothing to gain by sitting him out except maybe a recruiting negotiating piece which really wouldnt matter for a team that just recruited the nations top 3 players.

Got no problem with a kid that hasnt even secured a bag sitting out the rest of the year, Bol-Bol and Garland both already did that. However like I said before Zion has mentioned many times how much he loves playing at Duke, this is apparently just a mild knee sprain and I think he would regret not returning for the rest of his life.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 First, those looked like some Nike Outlet Store clearance rack shoes.  

Second, Zion is bigger than college. He might also be bigger than basketball.  I actually think he should look into a career in the WWE.  

Zion is a BRAND.  This is not about this game, or this week, or this season, and maybe not even his first NBA contract.  Zion The BRAND should look 10 to 15 to 20 years down the road.  

Zion looks like a MULTI-SPORT mega star.  NBA, WWE, maybe even the XFL once it gets up and running.  Yeah, most guys are more likely to get hurt playing football — but this guy is built for football (and pro wrestling), not necessarily for basketball.

Yeah, Vince McMahon needs to write this kid a blank check.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I bet he’s been wearing the same pair of shoes all year and his weight and power just wore them down. No way thats a fresh pair of shoes. I’ve done that with construction boots but it takes about 8 months working every day.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 Doubt it, these kids get a new pair every week.Look at the zoom in pics you can tell these were fresh, not a scratch on them. 

[rfarrell85Participant]

I think Duke and Zion will take the “taking it day by day” approach, almost like they did with Kyrie. Kyrie had a lot more recovery time, but no one knew what the hell was going on with Kyrie and he sat until the tournament and had 3 good games.

If there is any chance to reinjure himself or play in pain he shouldn’t play, but if he could come back near 100% percent for the sweet 16 I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. I don’t know if anyone has seen Duke Blue Planet episodes on YouTube but Zion and the freshman seem really close and that could be a factor.

[Snatalini247Participant]

I think he should sit it out.

I’m not sure if this is a good comparison but I look at this like an unpaid internship. If you were in a school that forces you to have a mandatory internship and the only ones are unpaid and youre taking it then, say Google comes along and offers you super high paying job degree or not to start the same time your internship ends with a garunteed contract. I don’t know about you guys but I’m quitting that internship and school the day of if im getting paid 20 something million over a few years.

The NBA is a little different when it comes to the whole draft process. While for example the NFL has been swings in stock due to things like its combine that doesnt happen as often. Yes youll have some slight risers and fallers in workouts etc but usually the top guys stay the top guys throughout that process one the NCAA season is over.

If Zion is going first now hes most likely going first then unless someone makes a huge jump or if he gets hurt. I’d love to see him keep playing but in the long run I think this will be better for prospects like him in the long term if he sits hopefully telling the NBA to finally end this silly rule. Colleges give these one year kids nothing. They don’t usually want or need the free education and they benefit inversly an insane amount off them. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Can you imagine a Duke-Kentucky title game and Zion Williamson walks out of the tunnel Willis Reed-style?

[HitsterParticipant]

 It is also interesting to think the extra years that the likes of Ralph Sampson and Grant Hill could have had in the NBA if they had declared straight from HS or had been around under the one and done rule.

Shaq played two years in college when he was probably bigger and stronger than most NBA players.

If Zion did decide to sit out the rest of the season then would that set a precedent and what if it comes to March Madness and they go deep as could be expected and Zion decided he wanted to play again. I could see him and his advisors wanting to protect a big NBA rookie deal. But even if he was injured he’d likely still go top 3 minimum – think Embiid etc.

Also what if an NBA player was coming up to FA and decided to shut himself down from the last few games of a season if his team wasn’t in contention.

Nike executives are probably more upset though.

[Wahoo757Participant]

 He’s literally day to day, this isn’t a severe injury or anything. I’m sure potentially winning a national championship is of some value to Zion. I’d be SHOCKED if he sits out, and don’t even necessarily think he should sit out.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Everyone hating on the shoes, theres never been a dude that big moving like that, come on. As far as playing or not, that’s something he has to decide. Everyone acts like its so cut and dry. Hes formed a bond with his teammates and enjoys playing with them! 

[BlueRivers25Participant]

Zion is still playing for ACC POY, ACC Frosh of Year, ACC Championship, NCAA NPOY, 1st Team All American. NCAA Championship and Duke legacy.

[joe2324Participant]

 his college career is completely and utterly meaningless. He is basically giving free labor and risking injury. the NCAA is making billions off him and if he gets injured, he does have an 8 million dollar insurance policy but thats nothing compared to what he could have potentially made in the NBA. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The injury isn’t serious. I bet he continues to play. 

This was a freak situation that could’ve happened at practice or training. 

With his size and power/force, he needs a custom made shoe ASAP. 

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