(Ep019) Zion Williamson’s Injury Pattern and Why He Missed the Entire NBA Season

Since he first burst onto the basketball scene via jaw-dropping YouTube highlight reels as a teenager, the hoops world has been captivated by Zion’s hops, power, and charisma. When he was recruited by Coach K for a one-and-done season at Duke, everyone realized that the hype was real and Zion was destined for superstardom on the hardwood. This was confirmed when the New Orleans Pelicans selected the manchild with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. But as fast as Zion’s rise has been, it has also been maligned by injuries - to his knees when he infamously busted through the side of his Nike shoe at Duke and then when he partially tore his meniscus. Then came the fifth metatarsal break that has prevented Zion from building on the promise he showed while averaging 27 points a game last year. 

In this episode, Basketball Strong Podcast co-host Tim DiFrancesco (TD) breaks down: 

• Zion’s injury pattern since his days at Duke

• The ins and outs of a fifth metatarsal fracture

• How what TD witnessed with Julius Randle’s injury at the Lakers should give Zion fans hope

• Why Zion’s rehab has taken so long, and cannot be rushed

• The importance of every player developing solid jump-landing mechanics and using resistance training to make their bones and connective tissues more resilient

Keep an eye out for more NBA hot topics and inside looks into player injuries in future episodes of the Basketball Strong Podcast. And check out TD’s Instagram for more durability and performance tips.