Michigan State, Auburn, Texas Tech and Virginia are on to the Final Four. Zion Williamson is boarding the elevator to the next floor. The ride was fun while it lasted, writes JasonGay.
Zion Williamson reacts during Duke’s loss to Michigan State in the East Regional final. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images By Jason Gay April 1, 2019 8:13 a.m. ET I already miss Zion.
There’s good college basketball left for Jim Nantz to rhapsodize about. But I’ll miss Zion—the Duke freshman and the most exciting college basketball player in a generation—and I’m not ashamed to say it. Zion Williamson walks off the court after Duke’s 68-67 loss. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images Still, I’m not the only person who felt this way. Williamson was that type of player. He was so entertaining to watch, he was single-handedly elevating his entire sport—Duke games became must-see events, with thunderous TV ratings and non-stop did you see Zion do that chatter.
Here in New York, Knicks fans are going out of their minds with Zion-mania. I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, it would be fab to be able to watch Williamson on this greatness-starved stage. On the other hand: Friends don’t let friends become Knicks. No matter what, it will be the most dramatic draft lottery since the Cavaliers won the right to select LeBron James. It was impossible to watch Zion wreck college defenses—once he got a step, it was basically over—and not wonder if he’ll thrive even more at the professional level, with spacing. He’s physically ready, though a wise team will continue to build his fitness—he looked tired in moments versus Michigan State.
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