Scottie Pippen to Zion: “Sit Out The Rest Of The Season”

The Chicago Bulls legend, Hall of Fame member, and the guy who was one of the vital pieces in the machinery which won 6 titles, Scottie Pippen shocked the basketball world today.

According to Pippen, the No.1 prospect for the upcoming NBA draft, Zion Williamson from Duke, should skip the rest of the season, to avoid possible injuries he might suffer if he continues to play.

Pippen was straightforward today, saying that Williamson has nothing to prove anymore, and that he already established himself as the first choice for the 2019 Draft.

“I think he’s done enough for college basketball, that it’s more about him personally now,” Pippen said this Tuesday, “I think for him as a young player, I would shut it down. I would stop playing because I feel that he could risk a major injury that could really hurt his career.”

Pippen doesn’t see any other player as the first choice but Duke’s forward.

“I think he’s locked up the biggest shoe deal; I think he’s definitely going to be No.1”

Most of the experts are saying that Williamson’s 6-7, 285-pound body and the physical abilities he possesses are a one-in-a-million combination, which is why he needs to sit down and keep them for the biggest basketball stage in the world.

At the moment, Zion is averaging 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and approximately 2 steals and blocks per game, in 16 games so far. He is too dominant for all of his guards, and provides a spectacle in almost every game. Whether are dunks, rejections, or some unreal acrobatic moves in the air, the crowd always gets its portion and goes home satisfied.

Pippen’s long friend and a rival on the court, Tracy McGrady, who was beside him in the same broadcast, think that this is what really makes Williamson the biggest favorite for the No.1 pick.

McGrady spoke about the fact that the 19-year old is an extremely good marketing figure, which will make the arenas full.

He asked Pippen, whether is Zion the best choice for the No.1 pick because of his basketball ability or “because he is the most exciting player.”

Pippen answered – “both.”

McGrady disagreed.

“Really? He is not the best player on his team” 7-time All-Star stated. “I don’t think he is the best player. I think R.J. Barrett is the best player”

But he agreed that the wouldn’t either pick Barrett before Zion, because it is all about the business.

“It is all about filling the seats. Zion Williamson is more exciting, and he will fill the seats, but a better player…(pause)”

He also shared the same opinion as Pippen about not playing until the end of the season and even offered an example in college football, where numerous players skip Bowl games, fearing that some unexpected injury might ruin their draft projections, and above all, the safe future.

“Football players are doing it. Why not? The college football players are skipping the Bowl games, and they are getting ready for the combine” McGready concluded in the end.

Now, this opinion does have a sense from the player’s point of view, but whether is that moral and fair is a different story.

Imagine if some player commits for one college and then decides to sit after 10 or 12 games. What would that do to the team’s chances in the tournament, or to the fans who were anxiously waiting for the start of the season. This could lead to a flock of sit-outs, which could dramatically decrease the overall quality during the March Madness, and cause for many unrealistic results.

For the individual, that might be the best solution, but for the game and the fans, definitely not.

The upcoming few weeks will show Zion Williamson’s decision, though, he didn’t ever mention such an option. We hope that he isn’t going to.