Former President Barack Obama had a courtside seat to one of the most dramatic and bizarre moments of college basketball’s season so far this year.
During a game at home against rival University of North Carolina Wednesday night, Duke’s star freshman Zion Williamson went down with a knee injury less than a minute into the game after his shoe broke.
Barack Obama reacting to Zion Williamson’s shoe breaking. (? via @cjzero) pic.twitter.com/r7afSvYNrU
— Ball Don’t Stop (@balldontstop) February 21, 2019
Cameras caught Obama gasping and pointing at Williamson as he lay writhing in pain on the hardwood. Duke went on to lose the game by a score of 88 to 72.
I can’t stop watching Obama realize Zion blew his shoe out. pic.twitter.com/q7a4UfW0ab
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) February 21, 2019
Williamson, the favorite to win 2019 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year and a soon-to-be millionaire, got the shoes from Nike. His status the rest of the season remains up in the air.
With Nike’s stock was plummeting on Thursday, the company said it would investigate.
“We are obviously concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy recovery. The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance,” the company said in a statement. “While this is an isolated occurrence, we are working to identify the issue.”
After the game, Obama offered condolences to Williamson on Twitter.
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
“Zion Williamson seems like an outstanding young man as well as an outstanding basketball player,” Obama tweeted. “Wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Obama, a noted basketball enthusiast, also had the Internet buzzing over his signature “44 bomber jacket” he decided to wear to the game.
Obama’s style catches Internet’s eye at UNC vs Duke game https://t.co/roMxCpfo4U pic.twitter.com/C1icVkWMaO
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) February 21, 2019
