Pelicans' Zion Williamson & Family Face $2 Million Lawsuit by Tech Company

Zion Williamson sued for $1.8M by tech company over loan.

New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson and his family are facing a lawsuit from tech company Ankr, alleging that they have failed to repay a $2 million loan. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans, claims that Williamson, his stepfather Lee Anderson, and his mother Sharonda Sampson still owe Ankr $1.8 million.

Ankr states that it had hoped Williamson would serve as a spokesperson for the company. According to the lawsuit, Anderson, who acted as Williamson's manager, demanded an upfront payment of $150,000 just to initiate negotiations.

Sampson, Williamson's mother, is also named as a defendant in the suit because Ankr allegedly wired her a "bridge loan" that Anderson claimed was necessary to fulfill other financial obligations.

In its lawsuit, Ankr alleges that Anderson informed them that the loan was urgently required due to the family's costly investments, including the purchase of real estate in New Orleans. The temporary suspension of payments from Williamson's sponsorship deals, resulting from an injury, made it difficult for them to meet their financial obligations.

Furthermore, Ankr claims that Anderson warned them of the family's potential "financial hardship" and threatened that Williamson would not fulfill his role as a spokesperson if the loan was not provided upfront.

Ankr also asserts that it assisted Williamson by connecting him with a physical trainer and personal chef, as well as supporting him in community events.

The lawsuit reveals that Ankr did receive a $500,000 payment from Anderson as part of a forbearance agreement reached in April of last year. However, $300,000 of that sum covered interest, and Ankr alleges that it never received the remaining $1.8 million from the family.

Despite being the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He has appeared in only 114 games and was unable to participate in the Pelicans' play-in game last season due to a hamstring injury.

When healthy, Williamson has proven to be an incredibly productive player, boasting career averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.