Nobody has generated more sneaker talk than Zion Williamson in the last year, with the former Duke forward famously ripping through his Nike sneaker in February against North Carolina, sending a ripple through the sports world.
With his must-watch style of play and infectious smile, Williamson is perhaps the most marketable NBA rookie since LeBron James. And on Tuesday afternoon, the recent No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft announced after much anticipation that he will sign a sneaker deal with Jordan, a Nike brand, becoming the second highly-regarded Blue Devil in the last three years to ink a contract with Jordan, joining Jayson Tatum. According to Forbes contributor Adam Zagoria, the deal is worth 7 years, $75 million.
“Zion’s incredible determination, character and play are inspiring," Michael Jordan, namesake of the brand and NBA all-time great, said in a Nike release. "He’s an essential part of the new talent that will help lead the brand into the future. He told us he would ‘shock the world,’ and asked us to believe him. We do."
Williamson's announcement comes a day after former Blue Devil teammate Cam Reddish inked a deal with Nike. Fellow Duke product and NBA first-rounder R.J. Barrett has not yet indicated which shoe company he will join.
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