Twitter reacts to Duke star Zion Williamson's injury

The 18-year-old freshman was dribbling towards the basket about 40 seconds into the game when his sneaker ripped.

Zion Williamson was dribbling towards the basket about 40 seconds into the game when his sneaker ripped.

Duke star Zion Williamson suffered a knee injury during his team's clash against North Carolina on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old freshman was dribbling towards the basket about 40 seconds into the game when his NIKE sneaker ripped. He fell down and grabbed his leg before heading to the Duke bench and then the locker room.

The top prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft was unable to return to the action, with coach Mike Krzyzewski saying afterwards he suffered a knee sprain and there was no timetable for his return.

Fellow Duke freshmen RJ Barrett (33 points) and Cam Reddish (27 points) carried the Blue Devils' offense in Williamson's absence.

UPDATE: Zion Williamson will not return. Knee.

— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) February 21, 2019

 

Since then, Twitter has been raging about Williamson's injury, with many wishing the "next big thing" a speedy recovery. Lakers forward LeBron James was one of them.

Hope young fella is ok! Literally blew thru his .

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 21, 2019

 

Former US President Barack Obama, who was also present at the venue to watch the game, tweeted about Williamson's injury.

Zion Williamson seems like an outstanding young man as well as an outstanding basketball player. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 21, 2019

Gotta believe. Yes we cam. pic.twitter.com/MUBUCyxGSM

— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) February 21, 2019

Several others tweeted how Williamson was too strong for his shoe.

Zion Williamson is so powerful he annihilated his shoe... pic.twitter.com/H9GxcP67pj

— Chris Montano (@gswchris) February 21, 2019

Meanwhile, PUMA tried to use Williamson's injury as a sales tactic. The apparel company wrote on Twitter, the injury “wouldn’t have happened in the pumas” shortly after Williamson exited the game. The tweet was eventually taken down.

He has been one of the best players in college basketball this season and is expected to be selected with the number one pick in the NBA Draft.

He entered the matchup averaging 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 68.3 per cent from the field.

Duke went on to fall to North Carolina, 88-72. The two teams will meet again March 9 at the Dean E. Smith Center.

With inputs from Opta