Blue Devil Country

Pundit on Duke Basketball Pro Zion Williamson: 'Brand Has Been Injured'

Duke basketball rim-rocker Zion Williamson took some flak for his lighthearted remarks about the dunk contest.
Matt Giles|
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

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On Tuesday night, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson skied for an alley-oop dunk in a 139-98 win at the Toronto Raptors, rivaling the heights he reached during his Duke basketball career. That prompted a question in his postgame presser about whether he would ever consider competing in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

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The 23-year-old, already a two-time All-Star (2021, 2023) but snubbed in this year's voting, explained that he will do so in the future under one condition.

"I gotta do my part and make the All-Star Game [again]," Williamson noted. "If I'm in the All-Star Game, I'll do the dunk contest. But if I'm not, [I'm] not doing it."

Those comments drew criticism from TNT's Shaquille O'Neal, who questioned the former No. 1 overall draft pick's self-confidence, and Jamal Crawford, who referred to the perceived ultimatum as "politicking."

Due to relentless questions about Zion Williamson's weight, pundits tend to pile on whenever the 6-foot-6, 284-pound bruiser becomes a hot topic. That was the case on Wednesday, as FS1's Colin Cowherd poked fun at the fifth-year pro's rumored eating habits before further opining that the NBA Blue Devil has an image issue:

"So, he'll dunk something besides doughnuts?...No, I'd like to see him in the dunk contest. And he's not a good enough player to skip on it. LeBron [James] can skip it...[Williamson] needs to do the dunk contest. His brand has been injured. It's been punctured. He needs to do the dunk contest."

Through his 51 games this season, Williamson is averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 57.6 percent from the field. As for the Pelicans' other former Duke basketball one-and-done, fellow starting forward Brandon Ingram is putting up 21.7 points, 5.0 boards, and 5.8 dimes per contest across his 56 outings.

New Orleans (37-25), No. 5 in the Western Conference, next travels to face the Philadelphia 76ers (35-27) at 7 p.m. ET Friday.

Cool Honor for Former Duke Guard Luke Kennard

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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