Zion Williamson Biography: Zion Lateef Williamson born July 6, 2000 is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA, playing as a power forward. After a standout freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils, Williamson was selected by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 and, in 2021, became the fourth-youngest player to be selected for an All-Star game. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, Williamson attended Spartanburg Day School, where he was a consensus five-star recruit and ranked among the top five players in the 2018 class. He led his team to three consecutive state championships and earned the title of South Carolina Mr. Basketball in his senior year.
Zion Williamson Biography
Zion Lateef Williamson, born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina, is a professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. He plays the power forward position and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft after a standout freshman year at Duke University. Williamson became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to be named an All-Star in 2021, and he was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.
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Zion Williamson Biography Details
Born
July 6, 2000 (age 24)
Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight
284 lb (129 kg)
High school
Spartanburg Day School
(Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Zion Lateef Williamson is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. He plays the power forward position.
Born: 6 July 2000 (age 24 years), Salisbury, North Carolina, United States
Weight: 129 kg
Height: 98 m
Current team: New Orleans Pelicans (#1 / Power forward)
Education: Duke University, Spartanburg Day School
Dates joined: June 2019 (New Orleans Pelicans) ·
Wingspan: 08 m
Early Life
Williamson was born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina, to Lateef Williamson and Sharonda Sampson. Lateef Williamson was a football defensive lineman at Mayo High School in Darlington, South Carolina, where he was an All-American in 1993 before transferring to Livingstone College. Sharonda Sampson was a sprinter at Livingstone and later became a middle school health and physical education teacher. She named Zion after the biblical location Mount Zion, inspired by her grandmother’s advice to give him a “special” name. When Zion was two years old, his family moved to Florence, South Carolina, after the death of his maternal grandmother.
Aside from basketball, Williamson played soccer and was a quarterback in football. At age five, he decided he wanted to become a college basketball star. By nine, he started waking up at 5 a.m. to train, with his mother Sharonda coaching him. He played for the Sumter Falcons in the AAU circuit, competing against opponents up to four years older. Later, he worked with his stepfather to refine his skills as a point guard.
High School Career
Williamson attended Spartanburg Day School, a small private school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he played for the Griffins. Between eighth and ninth grade, he grew from 5’9″ (1.75 m) to 6’3″ (1.91 m), and during the summer before his freshman season, he developed the ability to dunk. He also played for the South Carolina Hornets AAU team, where he was teammates with future NBA star Ja Morant. In his freshman year, Williamson averaged 24.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.3 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game, earning All-State and All-Region honors. He helped Spartanburg Day reach the SCISA state championship game.
In his sophomore season, standing 6’6″ (1.98 m), Williamson averaged 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 2.7 steals per game, earning SCISA Region I-2A Player of the Year honors and leading his team to its first-ever SCISA Region I-2A title. In June 2016, he participated in the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp, where he was the leading scorer, and in August of the same year, he won the Under Armour Elite 24 dunk contest in New York City.
Zion Williamson has become one of the most marketable NBA players, ranking just below LeBron James in terms of endorsement potential. He has signed major endorsement deals with brands like Jordan, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Panini, 2K Sports, and Fanatics. His 7-year, USD 75 million deal with the Jordan brand includes a signature sneaker line, the Jordan Zion 1. He has also teamed up with Gatorade on a multi-year endorsement for their sports drink Bolt24, and his partnership with Mountain Dew involves creating a basketball court called the ‘Zanos Mode.’ Additionally, he has signed a trading card deal with Panini and a contract with the NBA 2K video game series. Zion has also worked with SLAM on a unique NFT collection, featuring iconic magazine covers and digital basketballs available in limited editions.
Investments and Luxury Assets
Aside from basketball, Zion is also a savvy investor. In collaboration with NBA star Andre Iguodala and other investors, he has invested in Whatnot, an online community marketplace. His luxury car collection includes a custom Ford Raptor, two Mercedes-AMG models, and a Jeep Wrangler. Zion also owns expensive items like a Rolex watch valued at USD 120,000 and a custom Thanos-inspired Infinity Gauntlet chain worth USD 50,000.
Additional Income Sources
In addition to his NBA salary, Zion earns significant income from endorsement deals and investments. His basketball success has opened numerous doors for financial growth, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the sports world.
Charitable Contributions
Zion is also committed to philanthropy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he pledged to cover the full-month salaries of employees at the Smoothie King Center when the NBA season was suspended. This act of generosity inspired other NBA players to help workers during challenging times.
Zion’s Residence and Vehicles
Zion resides in a North Carolina mansion valued at USD 950,000, which he moved into when he committed to Duke University. His vehicle collection includes a Mercedes AMG G63, a Mercedes AMG GT 4-door Coupe, a Mercedes AMG S63, and a Jeep Wrangler. These cars reflect his love for luxury automobiles, with the G63 valued at around USD 130,000.
Zion Williamson Net Worth 2025
As of 2025, Zion Williamson’s net worth is estimated at approximately USD 18 million. His wealth comes from his lucrative NBA career, endorsements, and various investments. After being drafted by the Pelicans in 2019, his career has seen significant growth, with his net worth expected to increase over time as he continues to excel in the NBA. His earnings come from his salary with the Pelicans, brand endorsements, and other business ventures, with his popularity continuing to rise.
Zion Williamson Salary 2025
Zion Williamson’s salary for the 2025 season is USD 7.3 million. He originally signed a four-year contract with the Pelicans worth USD 44 million in 2019. Subsequently, he extended his contract with the team. Over the past few years, his salary has increased, with him earning USD 9,757,440 in the 2019-2020 season, USD 10,245,480 in 2020-2021, and USD 10,733,400 in 2021-2022. With his growing influence and performance, his salary is likely to increase in the coming years.
