Zion Williamson, a 24-year-old forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, has been accused of rape and abuse. The woman, whose name is not public, says that Williamson was abusive, controlling, and threatening throughout their relationship. She claims the abuse started in 2018 when he was at Duke University and continued for six years, until 2023.
In a civil complaint, the woman says Williamson raped her violently two times in 2020. She also claims he choked her so hard that she lost consciousness multiple times and feared for her life.
The complaint also says that Williamson threatened to kill the woman and her family several times.
Zion became a basketball star during his first year at Duke and was called the most exciting NBA prospect since LeBron James.
When the New Orleans Pelicans won the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery and got the No. 1 pick, they were thrilled and chose Williamson.
However, his NBA career hasn’t lived up to expectations. He’s missed more games than he’s played and has struggled with weight issues. Despite the Pelicans offering full support and resources to help him stay fit and ready, he didn’t seem to take it seriously.
This past season, he played only 30 games — the third time in five years he has played 30 or fewer games in a season.
