Before he returned last night for the Duke Blue Devils, Zion Williamson had a message for all the talking heads who said he should stop playing college ball and 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,” Williamson said prior to Duke’s 84-72 win over Syracuse in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. “You’ll never be forgotten if you win a national championship.”
And, with him on the court, Duke certainly looked capable of doing just that.
In the win, Williamson was unstoppable and went a perfect 13-of-13 from the field to tie the ACC record for most makes without a miss. The freshman led all scorers with 29 points and also collected 14 rebounds to go along with five steals.
Dominant with a capital “D,” Williamson’s play was that much more impressive given he hasn’t taken the court in nearly three weeks following SneakerGate.
ZION IS BACK pic.twitter.com/8x57cdqo5g
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 15, 2019
“Williamson’s performance after a 22-day layoff didn’t just remind everyone why Duke surged to No. 1 in February and has looked like the national championship favorite when fully healthy,” according to USA Today. “It accentuated the gulf between Williamson and every other prospect in college basketball.”
After the win, Williamson once again addressed the notion that he shouldn’t have returned to the Blue Devils with the NBA on the horizon.
Zion Williamson "I love this game, I love my teammates, so the people who thought I wasn't going to return they weren't smart….I couldn't leave my boys hanging." pic.twitter.com/o3W75FCTPF
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 15, 2019
Duke will find out their seeding and who they will face in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Selection Sunday on St. Patrick’s Day.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
