Zion after MSG debut: 'Playing 41 games here wouldn't be so bad'

Duke sensation Zion Williamson isn't against the idea of calling the confines of Madison Square Garden his home after making his debut there Thursday night.

"Forty-one games at the Garden, I mean, it would probably be incredible," Williamson said following the Blue Devils' 69-58 victory over Texas Tech, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN.

The 18-year-old is a projected top-three pick in next summer's draft, and with the New York Knicks sitting near the bottom of the standings at 9-24 (.273), it's possible Williamson could don the orange and blue his rookie year in the NBA.

Knicks president Steve Mills was in attendance Thursday, as were rookie Kevin Knox and guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

"This is the Garden," Williamson said. "A lot of greats have come through here. My favorite great to come through here was probably Bernard King because my stepdad talked about him a lot how he just put the ball in the basket. ... I had to go watch his highlights. He could really score the basketball. He was incredible how he did it.

"Playing 41 games here wouldn't be so bad."

Williamson finished with a team-high 17 points and 13 rebounds against the Red Raiders in 25 minutes of action, but did foul out with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.