Zion Williamson autographs can now be found on more than just basketball cards. The 19-year-old first overall pick in last summer’s NBA Draft has just added to his fast growing list of endorsement deals with a multi-year exclusive autograph contract with Fanatics.
An initial signing session has taken place with a variety of items already being offered online.
Interest in Williamson’s rookie cards has been strong since the season’s first products arrived. Now, fans and collectors will have the chance to snare something that’s a little bigger.
“We are incredibly excited to have him join our Fanatics team to create an unprecedented offering of authentic items for fans everywhere,” Shaffer said in a press release.”We’ve seen incredible demand for both his Duke Blue Devils and New Orleans Pelicans products from fans around the world, and through this partnership will now be able to offer the most real-time assortment of officially licensed products ever available.”
Welcome the newest member to the already stacked #FanaticsExclusive roster, @Zionwilliamson! pic.twitter.com/yormQ7QlVG
— Fanatics Authentic (@FansAuthentic) March 4, 2020
The top overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft missed the first 44 games of his rookie season but has made up for lost time, averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field.
According to ESPN, Fanatics has already sold more Williamson memorabilia since his January 22 debut than any other NBA player and that he’s in the top five in combined merchandise and memorabilia sales. Duke has stated that his collegiate apparel (which includes jerseys and T-Shirts) outsold all 2018 NBA first round draftees combined.
“I’ve always knew that memorabilia was a big part of the game because everybody wants an autographed jersey, signed basketball or just kind of anything to do with game-worn gear,” Williamson told ESPN.
“It was just me, I’ve just never kind of asked for any of that [growing up]. Maybe it was my competitive spirit that made me not want to ask, but now that I’m officially in it, it does open my eyes to another level of the money people spend on it or the time and effort that people truly take to get a card or to get a basketball and it’s impressive.”
The Fanatics deal means collectors will get a full name signature after seeing most of his earliest basketball cards inked with “Zion W.” Most collectors who’ve been buying them haven’t cared that much, apparently, with signed rookie cards bringing big bucks. Who else, after all, could be Zion W?
Prices for Zion Williamson autographs on the Fanatics website start at $499.99 for an 8×10 photo but the company is also offering lower cost unsigned memorabilia. Larger signed photos, jerseys and basketballs are being offered now with more items likely in the pipeline.
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