Star’s shoe malfunction gets water cooler busy
What Williamson does next, Nike under microscope
DURHAM, N.C. — Soon after Zion Williamson’s shoe ripped apart, Nike’s stock price took a hit.
The shredding of the shoe and a subsequent freak injury during one of the college basketball season’s marquee games immediately sparked debates about everything from the shoe manufacturer to insurance issues and whether the likely NBA lottery pick should risk his professional future by continuing to play for the top-ranked-for-now Blue Devils.
Williamson is day to day with a mild right knee sprain and is progressing as expected, team spokesman Mike Degeorge said Thursday.
By Thursday morning, Nike, which manufactured the shoes Williamson was wearing, also was feeling the impact of the injury.
The company’s stock closed down 89 cents at $83.95 on Thursday as the sportswear manufacturer became the target of ridicule on social media. A spokesman said Nike has begun an investigation into what it called an “isolated” event.
“Shoes have failed before, but not as visibly,” said Matt Powell, a senior industry adviser for sports for the NPD Group, a market research firm.
Playing before a crowd littered with celebrities — from Spike Lee to former President Barack Obama — Williamson was hurt in the opening minute as his left shoe — a Nike PG 2.5, from Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George’s signature sneaker line — tore apart. Williamson wears that model frequently during games and hadn’t had any obvious problems.
Williamson, 280 pounds, he tried to plant his left foot as his right foot was slipping. The blue rubber sole ripped loose from the white shoe, and Williamson’s foot came all the way through the large gap. He ended up in an awkward-almost-split, clutching the back of his right knee . He walked to the bench and a few minutes later headed to the locker room, leaving the wrecked shoe under his chair.
George said Thursday that he has talked with Nike to see what went wrong.
“It hasn’t happened to me as long as I’ve been in this shoe,” George said. “We’ve made three generations, going on four now of my shoe, of being successful. So I didn’t necessarily feel any way about that part — the negative part of it. My only concern was for Zion, honestly.”
Because Duke is a Nike-sponsored school, Williamson has his choice of that company’s footwear.
“I’ve seen guys bust through shoes but not sprain their knee,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
The injury also set off a fresh round of debate about whether Williamson — the possible No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, should he leave Duke after his freshman season — would be wise to end his college season so as not to jeopardize his pro career.
NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen made the case for it a month ago, saying on ESPN that “I would shut it down.”
Asked to respond on Feb. 5 to those comments, Williamson said that “I love college too much to stop playing. I wouldn’t give this up.”
It’s unknown whether he has changed his mind now that he’s hurt.
It’s also unclear whether Williamson has an insurance policy to protect him in case of injury.
Degeorge on Thursday could not confirm a report by Action Network that Williamson had an $8 million loss-of-value policy written by Winston-salem-based International Specialty Insurance that would pay out if he slipped past the 16th pick in this June’s draft. Officials at ISI did not return telephone and email messages Thursday.
Loss-of-value polices are not offered by the NCAA, but the governing body does offer disability insurance.