The biggest talking head in the NBA, Stephen A. Smith, has finally given Zion Williamson some long-overdue praise! Not too long ago, Pelicans fans were furious at Smith for what they saw as body shaming the 24-year-old star on national television. But it seems like times have changed. ESPN’s veteran analyst recently grabbed the mic to discuss Williamson’s dramatic weight loss, leaving him not just impressed, but also eager to warn the Western Conference about the rising superstar.
Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans’ powerhouse, has been the talk of the internet lately, thanks to photos showcasing his incredible transformation. The young star appears to have shed a significant amount of weight, and a report from Ian Casselberry of Yahoo Sports confirmed that Zion dropped 25 pounds during the off-season. Currently weighing in at 281 pounds, Williamson is determined to reach 272 pounds by the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Reacting to the news, Stephen A. Smith had plenty to say: “I’m just looking at Zion right now and I think about the Pelicans, and if this brother is on the basketball court, it’s a different animal.” Smith even recalled Williamson’s last game, where despite the Pelicans falling short against the LA Lakers in the Play-in tournament, Zion’s performance was nothing short of heroic (40 points, 11 rebounds). Had it not been for his late-game injury, the outcome might have been very different.
This begs the question: Is Zion Williamson now the biggest threat in the Western Conference? Could his transformation catapult the Pelicans into a new era of dominance?
Smith certainly seems to think so, continuing, “When he’s on the basketball court, ladies and gentlemen, this is a superstar in the making… He’s box office and he’s a Manchild, incredibly powerful.” He went on to list the Western Conference powerhouses, saying, “You can look at all of these teams—Mavericks, OKC Thunder, Wolves, Nuggets, Suns, Sac Town, Clippers—somebody’s going home if Zion Williamson is 100% and he’s playing in the playoffs.”
Zion’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth. After being selected as the #1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Duke standout was quickly hailed as the future of the franchise. However, injuries plagued his early career, limiting him to just 24 games in his rookie season. Over his first three seasons, Williamson played only 114 games, missing a staggering 100 due to various injuries.
Critics, including Stephen A. Smith, didn’t hold back. Smith once infamously remarked, “Zion Williamson, it’s not about his game. It’s about how many burgers he’s eating,” a comment that was widely seen as body shaming. But ahead of the 2023-24 season, Williamson responded by opening up about his weight-loss journey for the first time. In an appearance on Gil’s Arenas podcast, he said, “I respect brutal honesty… If you are honest with me, I know what to do to fix it.”
And fix it he did. Williamson went on to make a career-high 70 appearances last season, averaging 22.9 points per game in the process. Now, with his fitness at an all-time high, NBA fans are eagerly anticipating what he might achieve in the upcoming season.
As fans speculate on Williamson’s potential impact, one thing is clear: Zion is poised to redefine his legacy. Photos from a recent basketball camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina, show a noticeably slimmer Williamson, fueling excitement and debate. While some fans worry that losing weight might diminish his power on the court, others are thrilled by the prospect of a healthier, more agile Zion dominating games.
Williamson himself is confident. Weighing in at 281 pounds, slightly below his playing weight at Duke, he has set a goal to reach 272 pounds by the start of the regular season. This commitment to fitness is a crucial turning point for Williamson, who has often been one of the heaviest players in the NBA.
The Pelicans organization is undoubtedly encouraged by Williamson’s transformation. His new physique could be the key to avoiding the injuries that have hampered his career so far. Last season, despite playing 70 games, he was still plagued by a hamstring issue that kept him out of the final stretch, including the playoffs.
But the stakes are high. The Pelicans, with a talented roster that now includes Dejounte Murray alongside CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion, have the potential to make waves in the Western Conference. However, their success hinges on staying healthy—something that has been a challenge for the team, and for Zion in particular.
The transformation of Zion Williamson is a story of resilience and determination. From being criticized for his weight to becoming one of the most talked-about players in the NBA, his journey is far from over. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Zion to see how his hard work pays off on the court. Can he lead the Pelicans to new heights? One thing’s for sure: NBA fans are in for a treat.
