Coach K: Zion not in 'playing shape or mental shape'

Zion Williamson has garnered plenty of hype since being selected No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the collegiate National Player of the Year played just nine minutes during his summer league debut before being ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a tweaked knee.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski believes his former star is far from prepared for on-court action after spending the past few months away from playing.

"No, I thought really he never should've played just because he's been on this circuit of awards, the ESPYs, everything," Mike Krzyzewski told Forbes' Adam Zagoria. "I don't think he's in the playing shape or the mental shape to play."

Williamson has been the most talked about rookie since LeBron James, already dealing with lofty expectations despite not having played a single minute of professional basketball.

Regardless of the criticism of his former pupil, Coach K hopes to see Williamson and fellow Blue Devil and New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett battle it out for the coveted Rookie of the Year award.

"Well, if that means they're the two best rookies, yes," Krzyzewski said. "I just love both of them, and they love one another. They should just do their own thing, they won't worry about that.

"They're unbelievable, and they're both 19."