Irish in the NBA: Colson’s Career Hampered Again by Foot Injury

Former Notre Dame standout Bonzie Colson was supposed to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer. It appears that is no longer part of Colson’s plans.

Bonzie Colson had a difficult senior season that was hampered by a pesky foot injury. Notre Dame’s basketball program suffered because of it. As he prepares for his professional basketball career, it seems the pesky foot injury is hampering the former Irish star.

Expectations derailed

Early in the season, the Irish rolled, winning the famed Maui Invitational Tournament. But in the days before the start of the new year, Notre Dame’s season took a turn.

The Irish had played just one conference game, a 68-59 win over Georgia Tech at Purcell Pavilion. As they prepared for their ensuing game at home against North Carolina State, the team got bad news: Bonzie Colson had suffered a broken foot. He was slated to miss the next 8 weeks.

The Irish faced trying times in the wake of Colson’s injury. After winning their next two games over NC State and at Syracuse, the Irish dropped seven games in a row. The Irish won 6 games and dropped 9 in Colson’s absence.

Colson was able to come back for Notre Dame’s final two regular season games and the three games they played in the NCAA Tournament. Ultimately, Colson’s presence wasn’t enough for the selection committee, and the Irish were left out of the NCAA Tournament.

Re-injury

After dispatching Hampton in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, the Irish lost in frustrating fashion against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The most frustrating part of Notre Dame’s loss, however, might have been the re-injury of Colson’s foot.

In the middle of the second half, Colson left the game and headed to the Irish locker room. He eventually returned, ice wrapped on the foot in question. For the rest of the second half, Colson sat on the bench, frustrated that he was missing his last game at Purcell Pavilion.

Eventually, with the game already decided, Colson laced up his shoe and returned to the court. He never broke into so much as a trot, however. His college career was over, but now there were significant questions as to his ability to compete for a spot in the NBA.

Colson’s NBA Outlook

Colson already faced significant obstacles to success in the NBA. Namely, Colson’s size at 6-foot-5 is a red flag for teams looking at the Irish star as a power forward. A lack of playing time in his senior year due to his injury figured to be another obstacle.

But after not being selected in the NBA Draft, it didn’t take long for Colson to sign a summer league deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Once predicted to be a late-first or early-second-round draft pick, Colson had a chance.

Unfortunately, it appears that Colson has reached another roadblock on his way to an NBA career, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:

Colson’s absence from the summer league is certainly a blow to Colson’s NBA prospects. It may not, however, ultimately change his trajectory. Almost certainly, Colson was headed for the NBA’s G-League for much of next season. Having played only 21 games his senior season, it would only be logical for NBA teams to give Colson a test drive before putting him on an NBA roster.

Related Story: How Bonzie Colson's Game Translates to the NBA

Short of a dynamite summer league, it would appear that Colson was destined for the G-League regardless of his health. Once one of college basketball’s most interesting players, Colson will get an invite to play in the NBA’s G-League next season. If he performs the way he did in college, he has as good a chance as any to eventually make an NBA roster.