By ADAM ZAGORIA Zion Williamson is doubtful for Saturday night’s game at North Carolina but a final decision will be made closer to gametime, head coach Mike Krzyzewski said Friday. “Zion had his first really good workout yesterday, but without contact,” Coach K said. “He looked really good. I haven’t seen him today, but we will see how he is. He will have no contact again today. I would say he’s doubtful for tomorrow but we’ll put it out tomorrow.” Coach K expects Williamson back for the ACC Tournament next week.Duke says Zion is out tonight vs. UNC pic.twitter.com/r892BmY1R5
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 9, 2019
“The way he’s going, he won’t be doubtful for the tournament,” he said. “Yesterday was pretty exciting, really, to see him move and have confidence in his movements. Now we have to get him into conditioning and have him do some work with contact. He can do all those things when there isn’t contact but when there is, you do things a bit different. We’re on a really good trend here and I’m excited about it. He’s worked hard. Nick Potter, Jose (Fonseca) and our medical people have done a great job at rehabbing him.” The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson has missed four games after spraining his knee Feb. 20 against North Carolina. If Duke doesn’t face UNC in the ACC Tournament, he will go his whole career without playing against Duke’s top rival, as ESPN’s Jason Williams point out. Williamson is the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, and the Knicks currently own the NBA’s worst record. The Knicks, Suns and Cavaliers all have a 14 percent to land him at the moment. R.J. Barrett said the team has drawn energy from Williamson’s return to practice.Mike Krzyzewski was encouraged by Zion Williamson’s workout yesterday. Doubtful for tomorrow, but will decide closer to game-time. pic.twitter.com/YhAXg1g7xr
— Brant Wilkerson-New (@BrantGNR) March 8, 2019