Update 07/24/2019 10:31pm:
Duke superstar Zion Williamson, who was drafted by the Pelicans this year, signed an agreement with Jordan Brand that sources are saying is the biggest annual deal in history for a rookie. ESPN shoe analyst Nick DePaula said Williamson was getting offers upward of $10 million yearly from other brands, but he wanted to wear Jordans because of his idol, Michael Jordan.
According to Forbes' Adam Zagoria, Williamson signed a 7-year $75 million deal. While LeBron signed the largest rookie shoe deal with $90 million over seven years, Williamson will get more annually if he signed a five-year deal, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Zion's five-year deal would break down to him getting $15 million a year to LeBron's $13 million.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Original 07/23/2019 12:58pm:
The number one overall pick of 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson, has agreed to a multiyear deal with Jordan Brand. Williamson was being courted by many of the top shoe brands since entering the draft but held off on signing any contracts due to extenuating legal circumstances that have apparently been resolved with this announcement.
Moreover, many believed Zion's Nike shoe explosion from February could have dissuaded the former Duke Blue Devil from signing with the Swoosh. However, signing with Jordan Brand, a Nike subsidiary maybe dispels that notion. With Zion on board, Jordan Brand now boasts a roster with some of the marquee names in basketball including Kemba Walker, Jayson Taytum, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, and Blake Griffin.
Source: bleacherreport.com
