Twitter Gold: Zion’s Greatest Hits At Duke

Who ever dreamed anyone could play like that?

When you look at individual seasons college basketball players have had over the years a few really jump out: Larry Bird’s senior season at Indiana State. Stephen Curry’s star turn at Davidson. Last season for Purdue’s Zach Edey.

Very few people though have electrified the sport like Zion Williamson did at Duke in 2017.

It’s hard to believe now, but Williamson was seen as no better than the second, possibly third best player in his class at Duke, behind RJ Barrett and perhaps Cam Reddish.

He was an athletic prodigy, but many people, including us, weren’t sure how well he would adapt to college basketball.

That didn't last long.

Williamson and Duke annihilated Kentucky in the season opener, leaving ESPN’s Steven A. Smith so shocked that, for once in his life, he was very nearly speechless.

The best play in that game was Williamson swallowing a Kentucky shot attempt, heading down court and hitting Barrett with a stunning bounce pass for a layup.

The entire season was a joyride, one so amazing that even UNC fans, Kentucky fans and other fan bases and individuals who couldn’t stand Duke tuned in.

It only lasted one season, and it seems like a dream now, but for a few short months, it was the Show of Shows.