Zion Williamson, a power forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, deemed a once in a generation athlete by former MVP and 10-time all-star Kevin Durant. Williamson spent one season at Duke University before being drafted with the 1st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Pelicans. Williamson was an absolute stat sheet stuffer at Duke, averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game leading the blue devils to a fantastic 32-win season. Heading into the NBA 2019-2020 season, Williamson is a top candidate to win the Rookie of the year award.
Zion Williamson Net Worth as of 2019: $15 million
Williamson, 19, can potentially sign a two year, $20 million contracts that have two team options. Williamson also recently signed a seven-year, $75 million deal with the Jordan brand. In total Williamson is set to earn $95,000 without playing in a regular-season game.
A Highschool Phenom
Zion Lateef Williamson, born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He had played soccer and football before realizing his dream was to play in the NBA at age five. Williamson began training at the age nine, he attended Jonahkin middle school where he has coached by his mother and led the team to a conference title. When he reached the ninth grade he participated at the Spartanburg Day School, In his sophomore season, he had grown to 6’6 and started to take off as a high school phenom. This due to his freakish- athleticism, going viral on the internet with his insane in-game dunks, By his junior year, Williamson was the most talked-about athlete in sports. Averaging 36 points per game that season, combine that with him being an internet sensation gained attention from NBA players and even had Drake wearing his jersey. Not to mention his AAU game against Lamelo Ball sold out in Las Vegas and everyone from Lebron James to Floyd Mayweather attended that game.
Duke Star
ACC CHAMPSHeading into his senior year, Williamson was already a five-star recruit and ranked 2nd on the ESPN top 100. Williamson had offers from Kansas, UCLA, Clemson, Florida University, Georgetown and many other schools but decided on an ESPN telecast that he would attend Duke University. There Williamson would join three other five stars recruits in R.J Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones at Duke University. In his Duke debut, Williamson and Barrett would break the record for most points scored in a freshman debut by scoring 26 points in a win over Kentucky University. Williamson alongside his other freshman teammates would lead Duke to an ACC championship and a spot in NCAA National Tournament. The Blue Devils would make it to the elite eight where they were defeated by Michigan State University. Although not winning a national title, Williamson had many individual accolades and joined a select group by being the only freshman to have 500 points, 50 blocks, and 50 steals in a season. The other players in that group were Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis. Williamson has had the spotlight on him since high school but now more than ever all eyes are on Williamson and his rise in the NBA.