Zion Williamson's former agent reiterated her allegations that Williamson violated NCAA rules while at Duke, according to court documents filed in a Greensboro federal court.
Gina Ford of Prime Sports Marketing, who is in a contract dispute with the current NBA star, repeated claims, without presenting evidence, that Williamson and his family accepted improper benefits that should have ruled him ineligible under NCAA amateurism rules.
The documents were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina on Tuesday.
Ford's claims are her defense for signing Williamson to marketing contract even though she admits being in violation of North Carolina's Uniform Athlete-Agent Act. Ford is not a registered agent in the state. Because of that, Williamson's attorneys argue, the contract he signed with her in April 2019 is void and she has no claim to damages for him breaking it to sign with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation in May 2019.
Ford insists Williamson, now a rookie with the New Orleans Pelicans, owes her $100 million for breaking the contract.
Her attorneys want Williamson, his family members and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to answer her claims under oath in depositions.
Jeffrey Klein, one of Williamson's attorneys, called Ford's continued allegations "shameful" and "baseless" in a statement emailed to the News & Observer on Wednesday.
"Gina Ford's and Prime Sports Marketing's latest filing is a shameful attempt to distract from their admitted violations of North Carolina law," Klein said. "As Duke University stated in 2019, they and the NCAA both investigated and confirmed Mr. Williamson's student-athlete eligibility. The defendants' baseless allegations are a continuation of the predatory acts the agent statute was designed to protect against. Mr. Williamson looks forward to his day in court in North Carolina and, until then, remains focused on the NBA season and proudly representing his family, fans, and the city of New Orleans."
Ford first made the allegations in a Florida court last month. Williamson initially sued her in the Greensboro court in June 2019. She followed with a lawsuit in Florida since Prime Sports Marketing is headquartered in Miami.
A Florida circuit court judge in Miami ruled last Tuesday that Williamson should be deposed and answer questions under oath regarding the eligibility claims. Two days later, a Florida appeals court issued a stay on that deposition, saying the federal case in Greensboro should be allowed to proceed.
So this week, Ford filed the similar claims in Greensboro in an attempt to throw out Williamson's lawsuit so she can claim the $100 million she seeks.
