Duke University basketball star Zion Williamson grabs his knee in pain after his shoe shredded during a game against the University of North Carolina (STREETER LECKA)

New York (AFP) – Nike was in damage control mode on Thursday after US college basketball phenomenon Zion Williamson suffered a knee injury when his shoe shredded during a marquee game attended among others by Barack Obama and Spike Lee.

The Duke University forward, expected to be the top player taken in June’s NBA draft, was injured just 36 seconds into Wednesday night’s rivalry game against the University of North Carolina.

The 18-year-old Williamson, who has been averaging 22.4 points per game, was dribbling near the free throw line on his team’s first possession when he planted his left foot and his shoe blew apart.

Williamson dropped to the floor grimacing in pain and holding his right knee. He limped off the court and was removed from the game, which was being broadcast nationally on ESPN.

There was initial concern that Williamson may have suffered a serious knee injury but Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the game that it was a “mild knee sprain.”

“I’ve seen guys bust through shoes but not sprain their knee,” Krzyzewski said. “We don’t know how long he’ll be out.”

Duke, which was the top-ranked team in college basketball going into the game, ended up losing 88-72 to eighth-ranked North Carolina.

The 6ft 7in (2.01m) Williamson has been the most sensational player of this year’s NCAA season, thrilling fans with thunderous dunks and displaying incredible agility and leaping ability for a player who weighs 285 pounds (129 kilograms).

Nike, whose shares were down one percent in early trading in New York, said it was trying to figure out what had happened.

“We are obviously concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy recovery,” the sports apparel giant said in a statement. “The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance.

“While this is an isolated occurrence, we are working to identify the issue,” Nike said.

– ‘Hope young fella is ok!’ –

Among those sending their best wishes to Williamson was NBA superstar LeBron James, a Nike client, and Obama, who was among the celebrities attending the sold-out game between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels.

“Hope young fella is ok!” James tweeted. “Literally blew thru his (shoe).”

“Zion Williamson seems like an outstanding young man as well as an outstanding basketball player,” Obama said. “Wishing him a speedy recovery.”

Also at the game was Spike Lee, the movie director whose television commercials with former NBA great Michael Jordan helped send Nike soaring. 

Nike, which has a 12-year exclusive contract to supply Duke with shoes and other gear, is engaged in an ongoing battle with rivals Adidas and Under Armour for the loyalty of top sports stars.

Adidas recently managed to sign a contract with NBA leading scorer James Harden of the Houston Rockets, last year’s Most Valuable Player.

The incident with Williamson’s shoe is not the first with Nike products.

Nike replaced Adidas in 2017 as the official supplier of basketball jerseys to the NBA and there have been some complaints about the shirts ripping.

Nike has also been facing a boycott campaign after signing a contract with Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and social injustice.

The boycott does not appear to have had a significant impact on Nike sales, however, and Kaepernick tweeted on Thursday that a tribute “True to 7” jersey to him had sold out 

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