Zion's 1st signature sneaker could drop as early as 2020 All-Star Game

Jordan Brand isn't wasting time putting out Zion Williamson's first signature sneaker.

In a piece examining the Zion sneaker chase, ESPN's Nick DePaula reveals the New Orleans Pelicans rookie could have a shoe released in time for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Though the Swoosh was present, the plan from the start was for this to be a Jordan Brand pitch, grounded in the belief that Williamson could take the $3 billion sub-brand of Nike Inc. centered around the Air Jordan line to even greater heights. He would potentially wear the upcoming Air Jordan 34, the brand's flagship annual model that Michael Jordan himself made famous during his playing career. Eventually, he would receive his own signature Jordan Brand model, with a reveal of that sneaker coming as early as All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Jordan's home for most of his professional playing career.

Williamson signed a five-year endorsement deal with Jordan Brand last month that reportedly saw him eclipse LeBron James for the most lucrative rookie shoe contract in NBA history.

James released his first signature shoe, the Air Zoom Generation, during his rookie season after inking a seven-year, $90-million deal with Nike in 2003.