News & Observer: Adidas Paid Zion Williamson’s Family

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Adidas may have paid Zion Williamson’s father $5,474 dollars in 2016-17.

Adidas is sort of unclear about just how the details but let’s get a few things out of the way quickly.

First, this was paid in nine payments over a couple of years. That’s an average payment of $608.22 dollars per payment.

Second, this came from Adidas, and since Duke is a Nike school, we can’t imagine there’s any logical way for this money, much less this amount of money, to have led Williamson to Duke. Seriously, LSU allegedly offered Naz Reed a “strong-ass” $300,000 offer.

Third, there is no indication that Williamson himself was aware of these payments.

And speaking of trivia: $5,474 dollars? For the most celebrated recruit in years? Williamson could have made $5,474 dollars at 3:00 AM on any given Tuesday if he could have monetized his Instagram feed. It’s kind of ludicrous.

Frankly, it sounds more like reimbursement-level cash and with NIL about to kick in, we can’t imagine anyone much worrying about this now. But if it’s an issue, then Duke or Williamson could reasonably donate $5,474 to charity. Next play.