History of Zion Williamson in Timeline
Zion Williamson is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans. He was the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft after playing one season at Duke University. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 and became one of the youngest NBA players to be selected to an All-Star game in 2021.
1954
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for the longest streak of at least 20-point games on 50-percent shooting within his first two seasons began in 1954.
1980
The three-point era in the NBA began in 1980.
1992
Christian Laettner recorded at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game for Duke in 1992.
1993: Zion Williamson's Father's High School Football Recognition
In 1993, Zion Williamson's father, Lateef Williamson, earned High School All-American recognition for his performance as a football defensive lineman at Mayo High School.
July 6, 2000: Birth of Zion Williamson
Zion Lateef Williamson was born on July 6, 2000.
2003: LeBron James's Rookie Shoe Deal
In 2003, LeBron James signed a groundbreaking $90 million rookie shoe deal, setting a record at the time. This deal remains the largest rookie shoe deal in history.
2013: Middle School Basketball Success
In 2013, Zion Williamson led his middle school basketball team at Johnakin Middle School to an 8-1 record and a conference title.
March 2015: Participation in SCISA North-South All-Star Game
In March 2015, Zion Williamson participated in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game in Sumter, South Carolina.
June 2016: Leading Scorer at NBPA Top 100 Camp
In June 2016, Zion Williamson participated in the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp and emerged as the leading scorer.
August 30, 2016: Scholarship Offer from Duke
On August 30, 2016, Zion Williamson received a scholarship offer from Duke University.
2016: Rise to National Spotlight for Viral Highlight Videos
Starting in the 2016-2017 season, Zion Williamson's viral highlight videos propelled him into the national spotlight.
January 15, 2017: National Recognition from Rapper Drake
On January 15, 2017, Zion Williamson received nationwide publicity when rapper Drake wore his jersey in an Instagram post.
2017: South Carolina Mr. Basketball Recognition
For his 2017-2018 high school season, Zion Williamson earned South Carolina Mr. Basketball recognition and was a runner-up for Mr. Basketball USA.
January 13, 2018: Nationally Televised Game at Hoophall Classic
On January 13, 2018, Zion Williamson scored 36 points in a nationally televised game at the Hoophall Classic, despite his team's loss to Chino Hills High School.
January 20, 2018: Commitment to Duke University
On January 20, 2018, Zion Williamson announced his commitment to Duke University during a live ESPN telecast. He chose Duke for its strong sense of brotherhood and legendary coach, Mike Krzyzewski.
November 6, 2018: Duke Debut
On November 6, 2018, Zion Williamson made his regular season debut for Duke, scoring 28 points in a win against Kentucky. He and teammate RJ Barrett broke the Duke freshman debut scoring record.
2018: Five-Star Recruit Ranking
Entering his junior year, Zion Williamson was a consensus five-star recruit and was ranked as the number one player in the 2018 class by recruiting service 247Sports.
2018: McDonald's All-American Game Participation and Awards
In 2018, Zion Williamson played in the McDonald's All-American Game, though he left early due to a thumb injury. He was also named to the USA Today All-USA first team and received other accolades.
2018: High School Graduation and National Recognition
Zion Williamson graduates high school in 2018, ranked among the top five players in his class and earning accolades like McDonald's All-American and South Carolina Mr. Basketball.
January 5, 2019: Strong Performance vs Clemson
On January 5, 2019, Zion Williamson had a notable performance against Clemson, scoring 25 points and making a highlight reel 360-degree dunk.
January 2019: Record-Breaking Freshman Season at Duke
In January 2019, during his freshman year at Duke, Zion Williamson set the single-game school scoring record for freshmen. He also received numerous awards and recognitions, including ACC Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year.
February 4, 2019: ACC and National Player of the Week
On February 4, 2019, Williamson received ACC Freshman of the Week honors for the fourth time and was also named National Player of the Week by the Naismith Trophy.
April 15, 2019: NBA Draft Declaration
On April 15, 2019, Zion Williamson declared for the 2019 NBA Draft.
June 20, 2019: Drafted by the Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans selected Zion Williamson with the first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019.
July 1, 2019: Signing with the Pelicans
Zion Williamson officially signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on July 1, 2019.
July 23, 2019: Jordan Brand Shoe Deal
On July 23, 2019, Williamson secured a five-year, $75 million shoe deal with Jordan Brand. This deal stands as the second-largest rookie shoe deal in history, only surpassed by LeBron James's $90 million deal in 2003.
October 13, 2019: Meniscus Tear
Zion Williamson suffered a torn meniscus during the preseason of his rookie year on October 13, 2019.
2019: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
The year 2019 marked the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affecting various aspects of life, including the suspension of the NBA season.
2019: NBA Draft Selection
In 2019, Zion Williamson was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft.
2019: NCAA Tournament and Season Stats
During the 2019 NCAA Tournament, CBS used a dedicated "Zion Cam" to follow Williamson. He had several strong performances but Duke ultimately lost in the Elite 8. In his freshman season, Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, shooting 68% from the field, which led the ACC.
January 22, 2020: NBA Debut
Zion Williamson made his NBA debut on January 22, 2020, scoring 22 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
March 13, 2020: Support for Arena Workers
On March 13, 2020, Williamson exhibited generosity by committing to cover the salaries of all Smoothie King Center employees for 30 days during the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating solidarity with arena staff during a challenging period.
2020: NBA All-Rookie First Team
Zion Williamson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.
February 12, 2021: Career-High 36 Points
On February 12, 2021, Zion Williamson scored a then career-high 36 points in a loss against the Dallas Mavericks, shooting 14-of-15 from the field.
February 23, 2021: First NBA All-Star Selection
On February 23, 2021, Zion Williamson was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game.
March 21, 2021: 30-Point Game Against Denver
On March 21, 2021, Zion Williamson scored 30 points and had 6 rebounds in a win over the Denver Nuggets.
2021: NBA All-Star Selection
In 2021, Zion Williamson became the fourth youngest NBA player to be selected to an All-Star game.
2021: Weight Gain and Criticism
During 2021, Zion Williamson faced scrutiny from basketball observers due to his weight exceeding 300 lbs, leading to concerns about his fitness and performance.
July 6, 2022: Pelicans Contract Extension
On July 6, 2022, Zion Williamson signed a five-year contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans worth $193 million guaranteed.
October 4, 2022: Return from Injury
On October 4, 2022, Zion Williamson returned from injury in a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, scoring 13 points.
2022: Weight Loss and Contract Incentives
In 2022, Williamson successfully lost weight, addressing previous criticism. His contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans included provisions for salary reductions if he didn't maintain specific weight and body fat percentage targets.
January 2, 2023: Hamstring Injury
On January 2, 2023, Zion Williamson was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Initially, it was anticipated that he would be able to return to playing by the end of January.
January 26, 2023: Second NBA All-Star Selection
Zion Williamson was selected for his second NBA All-Star game appearance on January 26, 2023. However, due to his ongoing hamstring injury, he was unable to participate and was replaced by Anthony Edwards.
June 2023: Pregnancy Announcement and Controversy
In June 2023, Williamson shared the news of his girlfriend's pregnancy, expecting a daughter in November, through a YouTube video. This announcement was followed by allegations from adult film star Moriah Mills on Twitter, claiming a recent affair with Williamson, creating controversy.
November 29, 2023: Dominant Performance against the 76ers
On November 29, 2023, Williamson delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 33 points with impressive shooting accuracy, alongside eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, contributing to a 124-114 win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
2023: Continued Weight Concerns
Despite weight loss efforts in 2022, retired basketball players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal publicly expressed apprehensions about Williamson's weight in 2023.
2023
If Zion Williamson makes an All-NBA Team during the 2022-2023 NBA season, his contract with the New Orleans Pelicans could increase to $231 million.
2023: Physique Improvement
Since the start of the In-Season Tournament in 2023, Williamson has demonstrated notable improvements in his physical condition, successfully losing 25 lbs, highlighting his commitment to fitness and performance enhancement.
February 2, 2024: Game-Winning Performance Against the Spurs
On February 2, 2024, Williamson showcased his skills with a 33-point game, eight rebounds, and a crucial game-winning layup, securing a 114-113 victory against the San Antonio Spurs.