Zion Williamson's New Shoe Deal Richest Ever For Rookie

Zion Williamson, the superstar rookie for the New Orleans Pelicans, announced yesterday his shoe deal with Nike's Jordan Brand.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, it's reportedly the richest ever for a rookie.

Per ESPN shoe analyst Nick DePaula, Williamson had shoe deal offers worth more than the one he signed, but ultimately, Zion wanted to rep the brand of his favorite player of all-time, Michael Jordan.

"I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Jordan Brand family," Williamson said in a statement. "Since I was a kid, I dreamed of making it to the league and having the type of impact on the game Michael Jordan had and continues to have today. He was one of those special athletes I looked up to, and I really can't express how happy and excited I am for this journey."

Reports yesterday surfaced the deal was worth $75 million over 7 years, but those were erroneous. The deal is worth $75 million over 5 years, the most annually for a rookie at $15 million per year.

LeBron James' rookie show deal with Nike in 2003 was worth $90 million, but over 7 years for an average of $12.8 annually.