Williamson adds to his whirlwind summer with deal

remains a work in progress. His fitness has been called into question, and he’s spending the weeks leading into his first NBA training camp — now less than two months away — getting his body ready for the rigors of his first 82-game season, after a minor knee issue ended his summer league experience in Las Vegas earlier this month after just one half of one game.

“Zion represents the best of the NBA’S up and coming talent and we are excited to welcome him to Team 2K . ... We’re excited to grow with him,” NBA 2K senior vice president of basketball operations Jason Argent said.

Even with all these things coming at him at once — he already had fame, and now he has the fortune that can come with it — Williamson insists that he is remaining grounded.

He didn’t arrive for his video-game coming out party with a massive entourage, just his dad and a couple members of his management team. He didn’t immediately gravitate toward the bigger names in the room high above the Vegas skyline, but rather some young kids who were busy playing the game. And he cringed at the notion that he’s already considered a star.

“I just turned 19, I have yet to play an NBA game and I know I still have to prove that I belong,” Williamson said. “I’m a rookie. I have a lot to prove.”

Williamson is fond of saying that he’s merely living his dream, and he knows it sounds a bit cliche. He stands by it anyway. “You say things when you’re 5 years old like ‘Yeah, I’ll go to the NBA,’ but I’m really going to be playing against superstars this year,” Williamson said. “Lebron, Kevin Durant the year after, Anthony Davis. I’m going to be playing with great NBA players like Jrue Holiday, players that I played with in this video game. That’s my new normal. I’m looking at something I’ve dreamed about and now it’s my normal life.”