COACH K SAYS ZION WILLIAMSON NEVER SHOULD HAVE PLAYED IN NBA SUMMER LEAGUE

Zion Williamson’s NBA Summer League experience ended after one half of basketball.

And his former coach thinks he never should’ve played Summer League to begin with.

“No, I thought really he never should’ve played just because he’s been on this circuit of awards, the ESPYs, everything,” Mike Krzyzewski told me at the Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., where he’s recruiting this week. “I don’t think he’s in the playing shape or the mental shape to play.”


The No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and the most hyped prospect since LeBron James, Williamson on Wednesday won the ESPY as the 2019 College Athlete of the Year. He became the first Duke player to win the award after Shane Battier, Jason Williams and J.J. Redick were all nominated.

“I want to thank Duke University and Coach K for letting me perform on the highest platform,” Williamson said during his acceptance speech. “And a shout out to The Brotherhood — I wish they could have been here with me. I love Duke, and wish I could have stayed a second year.”

The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson sustained knee-to-knee contact on his left knee in the first half of the Pelicans’ Summer League opener against R.J. Barrett and the Knicks on July 5. He tallied 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting with 3 rebounds in the first half.

“Yeah, he’s OK,” said Coach K, who remains in touch with both Williamson and Barrett, whom he says will end up being just fine with the Knicks despite his early Summer League struggles.

“Zion will move forward from this issue without incident,” said Pelicans executive VP David Griffin. “However, in an abundance of caution, we have made the determination that he will not appear in game action for the remainder of the NBA Summer League. He will continue to take part in training and conditioning with our performance team.”

Coach K said he believes in what Griffin is doing in New Orleans by getting assets in the Anthony Davis trade with the Lakers and building around Williamson.

“Good, great, I love David Griffin,” he said. “He’s been a friend since he worked for Jerry Colangelo a long time ago. I think he’s really smart, what he’s done in a short period fot time.”

At Duke, Williamson missed the final month of the regular season with a sprained right knee after blowing out a shoe in a regular season game against North Carolina on Feb. 23.

He returned to help Duke beat Syracuse in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, finishing the game shooting 13-of-13 from the field, and tying the ACC record for most makes without a miss. His 29 points led all scorers.

Duke won the ACC Tournament over Florida State, with Williamson going for 21 points and 5 rebounds.

Now he’d like to see his two former proteges, Williamson and Barrett, compete for NBA Rookie of the Year honors next season


“Well, if that means they’re the two best rookies, yes,” he said. “I just love both of them, and they love one another. They should just do their own thing, they won’t worry about that.

“They’re unbelievable and they’re both 19.”