Zion considered returning to Duke: 'I genuinely wanted to go back'

Zion Williamson instantly became the consensus No. 1 pick after declaring for the 2019 NBA Draft in April following a dominant freshman campaign with Duke. It was widely assumed that Williamson entering the professional ranks as soon as possible was inevitable.

But, his decision to declare for the draft was far from a formality, according to the New Orleans Pelicans forward. Williamson says he wrestled with the idea of returning for another collegiate season in Durham, North Carolina.

"Me, I wanted to go back. Nobody ever believes me. They think I'm just saying that, but no. I genuinely wanted to go back," Williamson told his current teammate and fellow Duke alumni, JJ Redick, on a recent episode of "The JJ Redick Podcast."

"I felt like the NBA wasn't going anywhere. ... I just loved my experience at Duke that much where I wanted to stay."

The 2019 Naismith Men's Player of the Year acknowledged that, despite his interest in returning, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski wouldn't have allowed him to come back because he wanted Williamson to do what was best for his family.

Williamson added that some of his Blue Devils teammates, as well as his mother and stepfather, helped convince him to turn pro.

The 19-year-old signed a two-year, $20-million NBA contract and a lucrative multi-year apparel deal with Jordan Brand worth a reported $75 million after being drafted by New Orleans in June.