NBA players have chimed in on the Zion Williamson debate after the Duke freshman suffered a freak injury to his knee in a rivalry game against North Carolina, which featured his shoe exploding about half a minute into the game. Blake Griffin of the Detroit Pistons was once a highly lauded high school player like Williamson, and while he wouldn't trade his two seasons at Oklahoma, he noted the Duke forward should be supported and not criticized regardless of his decision:
“Whatever he decides to do, he should be supported,” Griffin said following the Pistons' 125-122 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. “If he didn't want to play anymore, I get it. But if you do want to play, he plays basketball, he's a basketball player. I also get that, too. You can't live or play the game of basketball playing scared of injury or scared of things you can't control.”
Griffin was forced to sit out his would-be rookie season after sustaining a knee injury in the final game of the LA Clippers' Summer League, but would come back a year later to post an impressive rookie season, averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds while playing all 82 games:
“It's an individual decision. I made the decision (to return to OU for his sophomore season) to improve my game,” said Griffin. “I wanted to get stronger and be more ready for the league when a lot of people were telling me not to, get that guaranteed money. He's already made so money for that university, the NCAA, he doesn't owe anybody anything.”
Many NBA players have expressed concern for Williamson's wallet, given that he's selling out arenas and getting zero profit from it as the team's main attraction. But some, like Griffin, argue that the decision should be solely his, and not for his future colleagues to make.
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