MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: Zion Williamson of the Duke Blue Devils speaks during a press conference after being awarded the AP Player of the Year award prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)Zion Williamson is only days away from becoming a multi-millionaire when he gets selected in the NBA Draft. But before he hears his name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, he has to contend with some frustrating personal business.
According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Zion is suing Gina Ford and Prime Sports to enforce the termination of his marketing agreement with them. Per the report, Zion’s attorneys are asserting that the deal he signed was unlawful in the state of North Carolina, where it was made.
Several days after Zion declared for the NBA Draft, he and his family informed the marketing company that he would be ending the agreement. But the company threatened to sue him for damages upwards of $100 million if he broke it prematurely.
The suit alleges that the agreement was unlawful under North Carolina law since “Prime Sports is not certified by the National Basketball Players Association or a registered athlete agent in North Carolina or Florida.”
Zion Williamson is suing to enforce his termination of an agreement he signed with a Florida marketing company, maintaining their deal was unlawful under North Carolina law. Story on ESPN: https://t.co/yr5erea0ZX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 13, 2019
In a statement to ESPN, Zion’s attorney, Jeffrey S. Klein, explained that Prime Sports’ behavior following his client’s decision to terminate the agreement necessitated the lawsuit.
“Prime Sports Marketing’s actions towards Mr. Williamson blatantly violated the North Carolina statute specifically designed to protect student athletes. Mr. Williamson properly exercised his rights under the law to void his business dealings with Prime Sports Marketing. Prime Sports Marketing’s continued threats against Mr. Williamson made necessary the filing of this lawsuit.”
Zion is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and is expected to go to the New Orleans Pelicans.
On top of the mega deal he’ll get by being the top pick in the draft, he is also widely expected to land a major shoe deal that could be worth as much as $100 million.
