Zion Williamson: Career, Salary, Net Worth, and Personal Life

Few athletes have generated as much conversation about their potential—and their paycheck—as Zion Williamson. From a record-breaking shoe deal to a contract packed with weigh-in clauses, his story goes far beyond the highlight reel. Here’s a grounded look at the numbers, the injuries, and the personal life behind the headlines.

Height: 6 ft 6 in ·
Weight: 284 lbs ·
Age: 26 ·
Average annual salary: $39.4 million ·
Draft: 2019, 1st overall

Eight stats that define the player: the basics you need before diving into the deeper story.

What is happening with Zion Williamson?

Zion Williamson injury update

Williamson has been dealing with hamstring injuries that caused him to miss 20 games in the 2024 season, according to ESPN (sports news outlet). His overall availability remains a concern: through the 2024 season he had played only 114 games in five years, Basketball Reference (statistics database) reports.

Zion Williamson contract status

Williamson is currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans under a five-year, $197,230,450 extension signed in 2022, per Spotrac (contract tracker). The final three seasons were initially non-guaranteed if he missed more than 22 games in 2022-23, but the Pelicans fully guaranteed his 2025-26 salary on July 15, 2025, The Athletic (sports journalism outlet) confirmed.

The deal includes weigh-in checkpoints and game-appearance thresholds: 41, 51, and 61 games played in the prior season trigger additional guarantee tranches, ESPN (sports news outlet) detailed.

The implication: Williamson’s future with the Pelicans is now financially locked in for the next season, but his long-term role depends on staying healthy enough to hit those game thresholds.

Why did Nike lose $28 billion in one day?

How much did Nike lose after Zion?

During Williamson’s first game in a Nike PG 2.5 shoe on February 20, 2019, the shoe exploded, causing him to exit the game. Nike’s stock dropped 1–1.7% that day, according to ESPN (sports news outlet). The widely cited “$28 billion loss” refers to the total decline in Nike’s market capitalization that day—not the entire drop attributable to Williamson, but the shoe failure was a contributing factor.

Did Jordan drop Zion?

No. Jordan Brand did not drop Williamson as a sponsored athlete. After the shoe failure, Nike and Jordan Brand continued their partnership with Williamson, and he remains a Nike athlete, Britannica (encyclopedia) notes.

The pattern: a dramatic market reaction to a product failure, but the enduring relationship shows the value both sides still see in the deal.

Did Zion Williamson have a baby?

How many babies does Zion Williamson have?

Williamson has one child, born in 2023, with his ex-girlfriend, according to The Athletic (sports journalism outlet). He has not publicly confirmed any additional children.

Who is Zion’s ex-girlfriend?

His ex-girlfriend is Ahkeema, as reported by ESPN (sports news outlet). The couple is no longer together, and Williamson is not married as of 2025.

The trade-off: fatherhood adds a new dimension to Williamson’s public life, but he has kept details private, leaving fans and media to speculate.

What is Zion Williamson’s salary?

What is Zion Williamson’s net worth?

Net worth estimates vary widely. The Associated Press (news agency) reported that his 2022 extension could rise to $231 million with incentives. Current estimates place his net worth between $30 million and $40 million, factoring in salary, endorsements, and taxes, per Spotrac (contract tracker).

Zion Williamson contract details

His average annual salary is $39,446,090, Spotrac (contract tracker) states. The 2025-26 base salary is $39,446,090, fully guaranteed as of July 2025. The extension was signed in July 2022, per Associated Press (news agency).

What this means: Williamson’s salary is among the highest in the NBA, but the guarantee structure shows the Pelicans’ caution about his injury history.

How tall is Zion Williamson?

Zion Williamson age

Williamson was born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina, Britannica (encyclopedia) records. He is 26 years old.

Zion Williamson high school

He attended Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina before transferring to Duke University for one college season, Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) notes.

Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), making him shorter than many power forwards but exceptionally strong at 284 lbs.

The contrast: Williamson’s height is average for his position, but his weight and explosiveness are extraordinary—a combination that makes him hard to guard but also harder to keep healthy.

For Pelicans fans and the front office, the choice is clear: invest in a health-first program that keeps Williamson on the court for 60+ games, or risk seeing the $197 million contract become an albatross. The stakes are high—not just for New Orleans, but for the NBA’s model of guaranteed contracts with performance clauses.

For a deeper look at Zion Williamson’s injury history and contract details, Zion Williamsons injury history and contract provides a comprehensive overview.

Frequently asked questions