Zion Williamson will take center stage when Duke opens its NCAA Tournament run on Friday night, and CBS is planning to put the spotlight on him.
The Sporting News reported that CBS had brought in a “Zion Cam” for Friday’s game, even hiring an extra cameraman and bringing in more equipment to make it happen. The camera will follow Williamson on the floor in isolation for the entire game.
CBS plans to debut "Zion Cam" tonight during Duke's game.
"We hired a cameraman, a camera, a digital tape machine to record everything he does." https://t.co/HE2pKUUe59 pic.twitter.com/t3bHHsgQbu
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 22, 2019
That didn’t impress NBA players Frank Kaminsky and Bobby Portis, both of whom were quick to remark that despite all this, Williamson himself wouldn’t see a penny at the college level.
Your reminder that NCAA athletes can’t profit of their own image and likeness https://t.co/fzAhaVYjUB
— Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) March 22, 2019
Lol but he doesn’t get paid for it though y’all be robbing student athletes man. https://t.co/U55pBjHWVK
— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) March 22, 2019
The point being made is that, despite being the main attraction for a TV network that will roll in the money with their Williamson-centric telecast, the player himself can’t profit. Kaminsky went further, debating with a fan who argued that all the attention would be good for Williamson’s brand once he entered the NBA.
Guy had 1 million followers before he ever step foot on a college campus. Next https://t.co/rWgBxzanUM
— Francis Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) March 22, 2019
This isn’t the first time Williamson’s presence in the college game has sparked a discussion about paying college athletes. It probably won’t be the last time, either.
