Nike develops custom shoe for Duke star Zion Williamson after epic sneaker fail

Mar 15, 2019

Duke's Zion Williamson (1) goes up to dunk against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Duke's Zion Williamson is the No. 1 draft pick for 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Nike is stepping up their game with a stronger shoe for Duke star Zion Williamson, after his 280-pound frame caused their PG 2.5 shoe to break apart during a game last month.

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President Barack Obama was at that game last month sitting along the baseline near the Duke bench. He shouted words of encouragement to Williamson as he left the court with a knee injury and tweeted his support.

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

According to Sports Illustrated, Duke head coach Michael Krzyzewski said Nike flew top executives to North Carolina to meet with Williamson and analyze what happened to the shoe during the game. Then they flew to China to personally oversee the new shoe’s construction, which is reportedly a revamped version of the Kyrie 4.

And last night, after missing six games over a three-week stretch, the projected number one pick in the 2019 NBA draft came back better than ever in the ACC Tournament game against Syracuse, scoring a perfect 13-for-13 from the field with 29 points and 14 rebounds, according to The Sole Collector.

ZION IS BACK pic.twitter.com/8x57cdqo5g

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 15, 2019

Duke came out on top with a final score of 84-72.

When asked by reporters how the new shoes felt after the game, Williamson quipped: “The shoes were incredible this game.”

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