Mitchell Speaks Out After Zion Williamson Injury
Feb 21, 2019, 11:53 AM | Updated: 12:01 pm
Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after falling as his shoe breaks in the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After Duke superstar Zion Williamson injured his knee just 36 seconds into their game against North Carolina, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell took to Twitter to express the need to pay college athletes.
The potential No. 1 overall pick exited the game after injuring his knee from slipping on the floor and his foot going through his Nike shoe.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said that Williamson suffered a mild knee sprain.
Following the injury that exploded on social media, Mitchell posted a tweet about financially compensating college athletes.
Again let’s remember all the money that went into this game…. and these players get none of it…. and now Zion gets hurt… something has to change @NCAA
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 21, 2019
Does @spidadmitchell have a point? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/so1T2qSYBn
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 21, 2019
Duke has ruled Williamson out indefinitely but will know more about a timetable of his absence on Thursday.
Zion’s shoe: destroyed 😳 pic.twitter.com/LqQ2te0Jay
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2019
Mitchell played college basketball at Louisville, where he spent two seasons before entering the NBA Draft and being selected with the 13th overall pick to the Utah Jazz in 2017.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding college athletics and the demand from athletes to get paid as well as having a scholarship to the university. Athletes receive free books, tuition, fees, room, board and course related books.
Williamson Insurance Coverage
The star forward does have an insurance policy with Duke, but he likely won’t receive that compensation.
JUST IN: Zion Williamson has $8 million in loss of value insurance from policy written by ISI, according to sources. In order to start collecting, however, he would have to slip past the 16th pick in this year’s draft, which isn’t happening. pic.twitter.com/wDVAyhY2R0
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 21, 2019
As far as covering his injury that he has now, the NCAA has on their website:
“Student-athletes must have insurance covering athletic-related injuries to practice and compete, per rules adopted by NCAA institutions. … During NCAA championships, the NCAA provides supplemental insurance for student-athletes who are injured up to $90,000 in medical expenses.
Shoe Company Facing Issues
Nike is facing a lot of backlash after the shoe malfunction.
Nike’s stock dropped by about 1% the morning after Zion’s shoe broke. @darrenrovell reports that’s an “on-paper loss of $1.12B” 😳
📷: @orunychoi pic.twitter.com/4UKYEs2TCR
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 21, 2019
The aftermath of Zion’s shoe 👀 pic.twitter.com/YYnMyrlChT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2019
