Andrew Bogut takes aim at college system after star's injury
Zion Williamson and his busted Nike shoes have been the talk of the basketball world after the likely number one draft pick went down on Thursday.
The Duke phenom suffered a ‘mild knee sprain’ according to coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Williamson planted his left foot in the first minute of a marquee matchup against the University of North Carolina, only for his shoe to explode from his foot.
The college standout went down holding his knee, and did not return to the game.
The injury has ignited a conversation about whether college basketball players should be paid by their schools.
#Zion Williamson is an incredible player. However, it is moments like this that remind us of the college athlete’s fragility. It is $3k just to get into Cameron and Zion doesn’t get a dime. This is a young man who is as vulnerable as he is talented, and it saddens me to no end.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 21, 2019
As it stands, players are usually offered free scholarships by the schools that recruit them, but they are not allowed to be paid money.
This is a bone of contention for many, as colleges make millions of dollars from their sporting programs thanks to TV rights deals and tickets to games.
Seats for the Duke/UNC game fetched into the thousands of dollars.
Many past and present NBA players believe the system is flawed, and sees players risking their health for little profit before they are eligible to be drafted by NBA teams.
Players cannot be drafted straight out of high school under the ‘one and done’ rule.
Former top draft pick Andrew Bogut weighed in, joking about what Williamson gets in exchange for taking to the court.
“He got some free textbooks and didn’t have to pass for classes. What more could these spoiled college kids want?” he sarcastically tweeted.
“(Players aren’t) victims and he will be more than ok, but it poses a lot of questions the NCAA need to be accountable for.
“He making them big $$$$ whether you like it or not.”
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell tweeted “something has to change” after Williamson went down.
“Let’s remember all the money that went into this game, and these players get none of it,” he said.
“And now Zion gets hurt. Something has to change.”
Denver Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas also called for players to be eligible to be recruited from high school.
Let these kids go straight out of HS!!! Too much on the line to be messing with college if you got a legit chance to turn pro. One injury can change somebody career, Zion sit yo ass down lol and we will be ready for you in the big boy league #LookingOutForThePlayers
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) February 21, 2019
“Let these kids go straight out of HS!” he tweeted.
“Too much on the line to be messing with college if you got a legit chance to turn pro.
“One injury can change somebody career.”
