Zion Williamson Carries on the Sports Legacy of his Parents, Lateef Williamson and Sharonda Sampson

Zion Williamson, an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA inherited his athletic skills from his parents.

Zion Lateef Williamson was born on July 6, 2000, in Salisbury, North Carolina, to athletic parents, Lateef Williamson and Sharonda Sampson.

While his parents didn’t pursue sports careers professionally, they guided and supported Zion in pursuing a sports career professionally.

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Both his father, Lateef, and mother, Sharonda, are former college athletes.

His father, Lateef, who stands at a towering height of 6’5”, was an exceptional defensive lineman who commented to North Carolina State in 1993.

Lateef was also an All-American at Darlington High School in South Carolina and chose the Wolfpack over Penn State and South Carolina.

Later, he transferred to Division II Livingstone College to continue his college football career.

While very little information about his father Lateef’s current professional and personal life is available, he often posts about his son Zion’s achievements on social media, expressing his love for him.

Lateef has also tattooed his son Zion Williamson’s name on his arm. He turned 50 in February 2025.

Zion Williamson’s parents, Lateef and Sharonda, met each other at Livingstone College!

The NBA star Zion Williamson‘s parents, Lateef and Sharonda, first met each other while attending Livingstone College in Salisbury.

While his father Lateef showcased his exceptional football skills, his mother Sharonda, 5-10, was a sprinter and ran track at Livingstone College.

After years of dating, the couple tied the knot, and the family moved to Florence, South Carolina, from Salisbury when Zion was two.

Moreover, when Zion was just five years old, his parents separated.

His mother married Lee Anderson, a college star basketball player, shortly after her divorce from Zion’s biological father.

Zion’s stepfather, Lee Anderson, played college basketball for the Clemson Tigers in the late ’70s.

He appeared in 16 games across three seasons and scored 16 points. Lee also served as the coach of AAU teams.

Lee also personally coached Zion and helped in his NBA journey after the family moved to Spartanburg from the Florence area.

Above all else, Zion Williamson considers his mother, Sharonda, to be his toughest coach.

Sharonda Sampson, a middle-school health and physical education teacher in Greenville, South Carolina, was Zion’s first real basketball coach in several youth leagues.

In an interview, Zion stated, “My mom to this day is the hardest coach I’ve ever had.“

He further added,

Zion also recalled that when he was around ten, his mother and stepfather told him that to be the greatest, you have to work when nobody’s working, which changed his life.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Zion Williamson is named after the biblical location Mouth Zion near Jerusalem. He is Baptist.
• In addition to Basketball, he played football. Zion Williamonson played basketball for the Spartanburg Day School basketball team, the Griffins.
• He began his collegiate career with Duke University in November 2018 and his professional career with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019.