Sports
Slavko Duric Talks Zion Williamson Lawsuit; Says He Was Conned by Imposter
Rusty Costanza/Associated PressSlavko Duric, a Canadian marketer who Zion Williamson’s family alleges forged a representation agreement with the Pelicans star while he was in high school, said he was scammed out of $100,000 by someone he believed was close to the family. “I tried to do something I would characterize as outside the lines,” Duric told…
Rusty Costanza/Associated Press
Slavko Duric, a Canadian marketer who Zion Williamson‘s family alleges forged a representation agreement with the Pelicans star while he was in high school, said he was scammed out of $100,000 by someone he believed was close to the family.
“I tried to do something I would characterize as outside the lines,” Duric told Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated. “I allegedly was involved early. I was at the front of the line through a person who said he knew the family. Somebody who said he was [Williamson's stepdad] Lee Anderson spoke with me. Someone who said they were [family friend] Chubby Wells spoke with me a dozen times.”
Duric would not name the person who said they were connected to Williamson's family. He said once he wired over the $100,000, all contact with the people purporting to be connected to Williamson stopped.
“I've been the victim of a con job by somebody acting like they were in the inner circle [with Williamson],” Duric said. “I have never spoken to Zion Williamson, and anybody who purported themselves as being a member of Zion's inner circle was an impostor.
“Honestly, I am in a fog. I do know that I'm out 100 grand.”
Williamson and Gina Ford are currently embroiled in a lawsuit that includes allegations Williamson's stepfather, Lee Anderson, took $400,000 in exchange for an agreement on future representation. Ford sued Williamson for breach of contract in 2019 after he terminated their representation agreement—saying it was illegal under North Carolina law—to sign with Creative Arts Agency.
As noted by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Ford's agency is not certified by the NBPA, nor is it registered in North Carolina or Florida as an athlete representation agency.
Recent court filings include allegations Duric helped conspire to pay Williamson's family $400,000, which would have ended his student-athlete eligibility. If the documents are verified, it would strengthen Ford's case because Williamson would not have been a student-athlete at the time of their agreement.
However, Williamson's attorney, Jeffrey Klein, said the documents are forgeries. They include an alleged copy of Williamson's driver's license that reportedly features several errors.
Subscribe to Centenunlimited news
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe
