Last Tuesday, Zion Williamson's lucrative multi-year sneaker deal with Jordan Brand was announced, but it's now being reported that the signing came at a price.
Detailed by ESPN's Nick DePaula, Williamson gave up millions of dollars when he inked his 7-year, $75-million contract with Jumpman with multiple competing brands offering more. Puma was reportedly ready to offer the highly touted rookie forward "a deal that soared as high as $15 million per year, plus the potential to add an additional $3 million a year in bonuses." Puma eventually fell out of contention to sign Williamson after negotiations simply were not progressing.
Despite Adidas' longstanding sponsorship throughout Williamson's high school career, a deal with the Three Stripes was never presented to him after the company executives reportedly "opted to halt plans of an offer that would've exceeded $10 million annually for a length of as many as 10 years." The discussions also extended overseas to two China-based sneaker giants, Li-Ning and Anta, with offers of up to $19 million and $15 million per year, respectively, but the parties could not come to an agreement.
In just one season at Duke University, Williamson became the third men's freshman to win the Naismith's College Player of the Year award behind Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis while averaging 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
