GREENBURGH, N.Y. _ When Zion Williamson slipped in the opening minute of Duke's game against North Carolina, exploding his sneaker and suffering a mild right knee sprain, the sound reverberated through the NBA.
When the player who has been a consensus choice as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft went to the floor holding his knee, it wasn't just about the injury and the game but also what it means when the rules don't allow a player such as Williamson to head straight to the NBA, instead opting for a year of college _ and risking his future, a path that can blow up as quickly as Williamson's Nike sneaker did.
"I think they should be able to come out of high school, especially a guy like that who really doesn't need college," said Knicks second-year guard Dennis Smith Jr., who spent one season at North Carolina State after suffering a major knee injury during his high school years. "It's just a stepping stone for him. Baseball players are allowed to go straight out of high school. I don't really see the difference."
