High-profile shoe mishap causes embarrassment for Nike
21/02/2019
The match between local rivals Duke University and the University of North Carolina (UNC), which took place on February 20, had a star-studded crowd, most notably former US President Barack Obama.
Many who packed into the arena were there to see Duke’s Zion Williamson, who is projected to be the first pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft, an annual event which sees college players selected by the league’s professional teams.
His night lasted just 33 seconds however, after one of the Nike shoes he was wearing burst as he planted his foot on the court during a dribble. The blue sole of the shoe was ripped loose from the heel to the toe along the outside edge. He could not continue, with his team later confirming that the young man had sprained his knee in the incident.
Nike, the official supplier of uniforms, shoes and clothing for the Duke University team, released a statement shortly after the match, saying: "We are obviously concerned and want to wish Zion a speedy recovery. The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance. While this is an isolated occurrence, we are working to identify the issue."
UNC went on to win 88-72, a shock result against Duke, the top-ranked college basketball team this season.
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