New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson and his legal team got a little win after a motion to dismiss their lawsuit against Williamson's former marketing agent in North Carolina was denied by a federal judge on Friday (April 24), per Diamond Leung of The Athletic.
Zion Williamson is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit and a defendant in a state lawsuit. Both cases involve the same opponent: Williamson’s former marketing representative, Prime Sports Marketing president Gina Ford.
The main reason for the lawsuit revolves around the legality of the 19-year-old Pelicans star firing ford as his representation during endorsement negotiations. Williamson first sued Ford in July when he filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The Pelicans rookie maintains that the contract he signed with Prime Sports was illegal and thereby unenforceable from the start.
Zion and his team also argue that it violates North Carolina’s Uniform Athlete Agent Act (UAAA). This law requires that representatives of college athletes warn, in writing, about the NCAA eligibility impact on the player by signing a contract, per Michael McCann of Sports Illustrated.
After missing the first half of the season due to injury, the 2019 No. 1 pick showed out in the second half of the season for the Pelicans.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound forward showcased his world-class athleticism and strength. Through 19 games for the Pelicans, the former Duke star averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from the 3-point line while NOLA went 10-9 during that time.