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2019 NBA Mock Draft: Fallout from Zion Williamson’s injury gives others a chance to shine

By Brendon Kleen

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Cam Reddish #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts to a made three-point basket against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Cam Reddish #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts to a made three-point basket against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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Zion Williamson injury
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 20: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after falling as his shoe breaks during their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Duke. Zion Williamson. 1. player. 27. . F

You know by now that Williamson injured his right knee during last week’s much-anticipated tilt against the Tar Heels. I thought game analyst Jay Bilas put it best moments later when he said, “the legend of Zion Williamson is growing.”

There’s almost no chance anyone but Williamson is taken first overall this summer, which makes the narrative and story of Williamson’s freshman season the only things truly affected by the injury. Indeed, shortly after, a debate exploded about whether Williamson should play again this year. We won’t be taking a stance on that here because the choice is ultimately Williamson’s, but consider from a draft perspective how far he has risen since he was purely a highlight reel in high school in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Williamson was a fringe top-five prospect heading into the season with teammate R.J. Barrett unanimously placed ahead of him.

Now, Williamson is a surefire No. 1 pick who could win a national championship. Anthony Davis, the player to whom Williamson is often compared in the recent history of the draft, decorated his trophy shelf before ever graduating to the NBA. Williamson may want to do that. With him, Duke could win it all.

Next. Handicapping the race for No. 7 and No. 8 in the Eastern Conference. dark

The impact he has on the Blue Devils was clear immediately after he left the contest against North Carolina. The Tar Heels grabbed nine offensive rebounds and shot 51 percent from the floor in part as a result of Williamson’s absence. Duke had to adjust and play bigger, which hurt their offensive spacing and led to the team forcing too many 3s. His overall skill set helps balance Duke and his secondary playmaking on the interior is vital to their halfcourt offense.

Most of all, though, the lore of Williamson’s young career grew as he busted open a top-line Nike shoe and brought hours of debate about collegiate sports back to the surface.

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