Duke Report Duke Basketball News & Analysis
Ever since the Pelicans won #1 pick, there has been a lot of speculation that Zion was unhappy not going to the Knicks and could return to Duke thanks in part to the following tweets:
Zion Williamson was QUICKLY whisked out of the room after Pelicans were announced the winner of the draft lottery. Source said the former Duke star was rooting to go to New York, but now is going to New Orleans.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) May 15, 2019
.@WindhorstESPN explains the unlikely, yet real possibility of Zion returning to Duke instead of entering the NBA. pic.twitter.com/eYcQUUIShz
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2019
Plus the fact that Zion had said in an interview with SLAM, he would have loved to come back for another season.
All that speculation has been put to rest as Zion’s step-father confirmed he is not returning to Duke for his sophomore year:
Zion Williamson’s step-father, Lee Anderson, says on the Off the Bench radio show in Baton Rouge that Zion is "excited about the prospect of getting down there and getting settled” in New Orleans & added that returning to Duke “is not something that we have even considered."
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) May 16, 2019
While he won’t be back in Durham, it’s possible The Smoothie King Center could become Cameron Indoor South. If New Orleans trades Anthony Davis, it could bring Brandon Ingram (Lakers) or Jayson Tatum (Celtics) to the Big Easy. Depending on the trade and draft picks involved, R.J. Barrett or Cam Reddish could feasibly continue playing alongside Zion as well.