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Duke Basketball: Zion Williamson wins the Naismith Trophy

By Kevin Connelly

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils warms up before tip off against the Florida State Seminoles in the championship game of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils warms up before tip off against the Florida State Seminoles in the championship game of the 2019 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Another Player of the Year Award is headed Zion Williamson’s way as the Duke Basketball star freshman has now taken the Naismith Trophy.

As the famous American DJ, DJ Khaled, would say “another one.”

It’s another Player of the Year Award for Zion Williamson as he has now been award the Naismith Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding player in men’s college basketball.

Williamson won the award over Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura, Tennessee’s Grant Williams, and Murray State’s Ja Morant.

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Zion Williamson is now the eight Duke Basketball player to win the Naismith Award, but just the first since J.J. Redick in 2006.

The eight players to win the Naismith Award from Duke are the most by any school, as Duke holds a three player lead over UCLA.

Along with Redick, Williamson joins Johnny Dawkins in 1986, Danny Ferry is 1989, Christian Laettner in 1992, Elton Brand in 1999, Shane Battier in 2001, and Jay Williams in 2002 to win the Naismith Award.

Williamson is just the third freshman to win the Naismith Award, joining Kevin Durant in 2007 and Anthony Davis in 2012.

Since mid-March, Williamson has been awarded the ACC Freshman and Player of the Year, the AP Player of the Year, the Oscar Robertson Award winner, and a consensus selection to the AP First Team All-America, just to name a few.

In his first and possibly only season at Duke, the Spartanburg, South Carolina native averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting 68.0% from the field and improving all season from 3-point range, finishing with a 33.8% 3-point percentage.

Despite not making a decision on his future yet, Zion Williamson is expected to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft as he is the overwhelming favorite to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick regardless who wins the NBA Draft Lottery.

Next up for Zion Williamson will potentially be the John R. Wooden Award which will be presented on Friday, April 12 at the College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles, California which can be seen on ESPN2.

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