The picture doesn’t get any better for Zion Williamson in the lawsuit filed by marketing agent Gina Ford seeking $100 million. One of the agents suing Williamson has attacked his parents, pointing out to the new housing and luxury cars they got in their names as a big proof that Duke did pay him to persuade Zion to attend the university.
Ms. Ford went after three luxury cars registered to Williamson’s parents — a 2018 Mercedes Benz G Wagon, a 2016 GMC Yukon and a 2015 Cadillac Escalade — using DMV records as evidence.
“The cars, the cars, the cars!”
Gina Ford says that the 3 luxury cars registered to Zion Williamson’s parents justify discovery (meaning depositions under oath) “to determine whether these vehicles impacted his eligibility to be/remain a ‘Student-athlete.’” pic.twitter.com/cp5VTm8SwQ
— . (@PrograsiveXPlus) June 10, 2020
Moreover, documents filed on Wednesday claim that Williamson’s parents moved from a $153,000 South Carolina home with a monthly rent of $895 into a North Carolina home valued at $950,000 with a rent listing of $4,995 a month after he joined Duke.
Gina Ford’s attorneys also point to the improved housing situation of Zion Williamson’s parents as evidence that he was paid to attend Duke:
Pre-Duke: $895 monthly rental in South Carolina:
At Duke: resided in NC property valued at $950.000 (with listed monthly rent at $4,995) pic.twitter.com/WSr4Zu48ky
— . (@PrograsiveXPlus) June 10, 2020
The filing also asks for coach Mike Krzyzewski to testify on the case.
“Testimony from Coach K is warranted regarding his statements about the NCAA “pay to play” scandal as, when questions about some and any alleged involvement by Duke, he stated that the scandal was just a “blip/minute,” the filing reads.
On why testimony from Coach K is warranted: pic.twitter.com/t3VQ8mPJ3e
— . (@PrograsiveXPlus) June 10, 2020
Williamson’s attorney called this filing an attempt to distract the judges and the public from the biggest point of all, Ford’s agency violating the law in North Carolina.
“As Duke University stated in 2019, they and the NCAA both investigated and confirmed Mr. Williamson’s student-athlete eligibility,” Klein wrote. “The defendants’ baseless allegations are a continuation of the predatory acts the agent statute was designed to protect against.”
The picture doesn’t look good for Zion at this stage. In fact, it gets uglier every day. More so knowing that they point to Nike representatives discussing payments to Zion in 2017.
The public record evidence that Gina Ford relies on to sow doubts about Zion Williamson’s eligibility as a “student-athlete” are various exhibits from SNDY college basketball corruption case. Among them are text messages between Nike officials discussing payment to Zion in 2017. pic.twitter.com/FFW4dVKvgn
— . (@PrograsiveXPlus) June 10, 2020
After he signed a five-year deal with Prime Marketing Sports, Zion left the agency a month later, claiming the contract was illegal under North Carolina agent laws. Ford and her agency considered was breaching their agreement and now are looking to be paid $100 million.
That started a war for Zion and at this point, it doesn’t look like he has many chances to win it.
