There's a second lawsuit in the marketing fight over former Duke star Zion Williamson.
Prime Sports Marketing LLC and company president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit Wednesday in a Florida court, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract.
It cites numerous claims, including accusing Creative Artists Agency LLC of interfering with Prime Sports' deal with Williamson. It seeks $100 million in in punitive damages against Williamson, CAA and two CAA employees.
Zion Williamson, a freshman basketball player from Duke, attends the NBA Draft media availability, Wednesday, June 19, 2019 in New York. The draft will be held Thursday, June 20. (AP PhotoMark Lennihan)
Williamson signed with Prime Sports in April before hiring a player agent, but filed a lawsuit last week in North Carolina to terminate that five-year contract after moving to CAA in May.
This lawsuit comes a day before Williamson was set to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The dispute centers on each firm's ability to obtain lucrative endorsement deals for the 6-foot-7, 285-pound potential NBA star.
In a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday night, Ford's attorneys said she "has worked tremendously hard to build Prime Sports Marketing into a competitive marketing and branding consulting firm while raising a family. She's deeply saddened and disappointed that what was once a promising business with Mr. Williamson has now resorted to legal action."
According to Williamson's lawsuit, the contract didn't contain language required by the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agents Act.
Jeffrey S. Klein, an attorney for Williamson, didn't immediately return an email Wednesday. He said last week that Prime Sports' "continued threats ... made necessary the filing of this lawsuit."
The Prime Sports lawsuit states it was to receive 15% of compensation from Williamson's marketing deals. CAA eventually "induced" Williamson to back out, telling his family CAA was "better suited" and could secure more compensation on deals Prime Sports had pursued, according to the lawsuit.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.
They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.
Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.
76ERS 125, KNICKS 114
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.
With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.
NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..
Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
