On Wednesday evening (Feb. 20), former President Barack Obama took time out of his day-to-day activities to sit court side at a Duke vs. North Carolina basketball game. While reports of a $2,900 ticket to attend the game circulated, it was main attraction Zion Williamson that generated everyone’s attention, including No. 44.
During regulation, Williamson tore through his Nike sneaker and injured his knee, immediately taking him out of the game. The Blue Devils succumbed to the Tar Heels 72-88. Since Williamson’s injury, Obama tweeted his well wishes for one of college basketball’s most talked about athletes.
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
Zion’s shoe: destroyed 😳 pic.twitter.com/LqQ2te0Jay
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2019
Since his time at Duke, the power forward has broken the university’s basketball records, namely the single-game points data held by a freshman. Williamson has also garnered attention from the NBA’s leading athletes, specifically LeBron James. The Los Angeles Laker praised Williamson for his athleticism and command of the game.
“With his athleticism, with what we all see, to jump well beyond the 10-foot rim is incredible,” James said to USA Today. “I think what’s also incredible is at his size his speed, his agility, his quickness. And then to add on to that, I think he’s just a great kid.”
