Zion Williamson’s early injury garners New York Knicks attention

The New York Knicks were criticized heavily for their unlucky draft lottery position, but after an injury, they may have dodged a bullet.

Zion Williamson has begun his NBA career with success in the preseason showcasing all the tools that made him such a sought after NBA prospect. The prodigy player, however, will have to wait a little longer before he makes his Madison Square Garden matchup with the New York Knicks or regular-season debut.

Williamson was ruled out of tonight’s preseason matchup with former Duke University teammate RJ Barrett with a knee injury. The injury reportedly not severe is still expected to keep the number one overall pick out of action for a few weeks missing the start of the regular season. The New Orleans Pelicans are more focused on the long-term and want to hold him out as a precaution.

The injury was stressed as not significant, but it’s always been a concern for teams due to Williamson’s size and aggressive playing style. The risk factor for a knee injury was still apparent, especially since his games missed in college after a knee injury from his sneaker exploding to start a game. The fragile nature of a bad knee for a player that relies heavily on his athleticism has been the Kryptonite of many players in history.

Names such as Derrick Rose, Greg Oden, and Brandon Roy have seen their careers impacted by knee problems. Rose has managed to see a resurgence in his career lately but hasn’t been able to return to the MVP form he once had with the Chicago Bulls. The same sort of concerns will continue to haunt Williamson in his NBA career and adds another wrinkle to the debate on if Barrett was the better option.

"“He’s a monster,’’ Knicks coach David Fizdale said of Williamson during an interview with the NY Post, ”It’s exactly what everybody thought he was going to be. He’s a beast. He’s just going to continue to get better and better. We understand that kid is a heck of a player.”"

Williamson, when healthy, is an elite player on the rise, but the keyword will continue to be ’healthy.’ Barrett hasn’t shown any obvious injury risks thus far in his career, leading many to believe he has the better longevity factor of the two Blue Devils.

It’s too early to predict the players’ fate before the regular season even begins, but the speculation will circulate until Zion returns to the court.