By ADAM ZAGORIA
Zion Williamson is in the final phase of his recovery and his status for Tuesday night’s game against Wake Forest is uncertain.
“There’s no decision,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said on the ACC conference call. “It is still day-to-day. But he’s in phase four of the four-phase program. It’s just a matter of how long he stays in it. We feel comfortable. He had a good day of therapy and band work and conditioning (on Sunday).”
Duke plays its final home game of the season Tuesday in what will be Williamson’s final home game. He is the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
On Saturday, No. 4 Duke plays at No. 3 North Carolina in the regular-season finale, and it appears more and more likely he will play in that game.
The 6-foot-7 Williamson injured his knee on Feb. 20 on a non-contact play while attempting to take UNC’s Luke Maye off the dribble.
He has missed three games since then, with the Blue Devils going 1-2 in his absence.
But his AAU coach told me for a story on Forbes SportsMoney that he would be “shocked” if Williamson shut it down if he’s okay to play. And Williamson has said his goal is to win an NCAA championship this year with Duke.
Meantime, the “Sneaker War” over Williamson’s shoe contract figures to intensify because of the Nike malfunction.
Williamson is second in the ACC in scoring (21.6), third in rebounds (8.8) and leads the conference in field goal percentage (.683) and steals (2.2).
ZION BUSTED THROUGH HIS SHOE ? @ZionW32 (via @theACCDN) pic.twitter.com/GQXJHgTZvY
— Overtime (@overtime) February 21, 2019
Photo: Getty Images
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