Injury Proves Why Zion Williamson Should End His NCAA Career Now

Last night with a national audience tuning in, Zion Williamson blew out his left Nike – and potentially his right knee.

Though the injury the 18-year-old suffered about 30 seconds into Duke’s loss to UNC is said to be a mild sprain, it could have been far worse (and may turn out to be so).

Regardless, how easy it was for Williamson – who has yet to make a dime from playing basketball – to injure himself underscores why the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft should hang up his sneakers in NCAA right away.

At least that’s the argument put forth by hoop heads at ESPN, Yahoo Sports and For the Win.

“I don’t think Zion’s status will change if he’s out for two to three weeks,” according to ESPN senior college basketball writer Myron Medcalf. “He’s still the No. 1 pick. And he’s also going to get a bunch of endorsement money the moment he enters the draft. It’s best to preserve what’s coming and sit the rest of the season in that scenario. But I’m not Zion. He can do what he wants.”

Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo wrote something similar.

“Williamson’s injury highlights the fundamental flaws in a sport that requires NBA-ready talent to attend college for a year before earning big money,” he said. “Now Williamson must be more cautious. He owes it to himself to protect his earning power. Williamson’s last appearance in a Duke jersey doesn’t have to be limping to the locker room, but he shouldn’t play until he’s certain his knee has healed and there’s no risk of re-injury.”

Nate Scott of FTW had perhaps the strongest take of all.

“I understand why Williamson may have wanted to go to Duke, how special this team is and how much it must mean to him to play in front of the crazies at Cameron. But he needs to think about his future,” Scott wrote. “He has a professional career ahead of him, a bright one, and he is only jeopardizing it by playing in college. Whatever the prognosis, Williamson needs to protect his future. He’s already given us plenty of beautiful moments at Duke. He can let his teammates carry the load now and prepare for the next chapter.”