Zion Williamson was considered by some to be a “can’t miss” prospect coming out of Duke in 2019. However, the The New Orleans Pelicans star has struggled remain on the field regularly; in three separate seasons he was limited to fewer than 30 games, including one year where he did not play at all. Although unconfirmed, there has been much speculation about his work ethic and therefore its weight and the effect this may have had on his injuries.
Since becoming a sensation and going viral in high school, the 6-foot-11 Williamson has always been relatively heavy for basketball players his size. His athleticism has never seemed hampered by his extra weight, but he has often been the subject to intense criticism This could be seen as a stigmatization of obesity. The long-standing discussion about Williamson’s weight may not be very relevant if the new photos of the NBA star, as well as comments from his stepfather, are anything to go by.
Photos of Williamson at his youth basketball camp show the Pelicans looking slimmer. Additionally, his stepfather reportedly said that Williamson weighs slightly less than he did his freshman year at Duke and is expected to lose about 10 more pounds before the start of the NBA season.
The Zion Williamson Weight Debate, Explained
As a high school senior and in his first and only year at Duke, Zion Williamson impressed fans and recruiters alike. After the 2018-19 college basketball season, Williamson was selected first overall by the Pelicans. The hype and anticipation for Williamson was immense, even though his regular-season debut had to be delayed three months while he recovered from meniscus surgery. When he did see the court, however, it was eventful and well worth the wait. As a sophomore, Williamson earned his first All-Star nod and averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in 61 games before a season-ending fractured finger.
Injuries continued in the offseason between his second and third seasons, with Williamson suffering a fractured foot due to Jones, which led to another surgery. While he was expected to return early in the season, his recovery schedule continued to be altered until he was ultimately sidelined for the season. After a year in which he did not play a single game, Williamson signed a five-year contract, $197.2 million contract extensionwhich reportedly included a clause stipulating that Williamson must weigh less than 295 pounds and have an acceptable body fat percentage.
A hamstring injury in early January 2023 would end Williamson’s fourth year in the NBA, and his fifth year proved relatively healthy until it wasn’t. After playing 70 games in the regular season, Williamson tore his hamstring in the final game before the playoffs, keeping him out of the Pelicans’ first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During his career, one of Williamson’s most vocal critics, particularly regarding his weight, was It was Stephen A. Smith. But after the Pelicans’ lopsided and lethargic loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA’s semifinals, the longtime ESPN pundit took a particularly harsh swipe at Williamson.
“I saw the brother go to the free throw line, he looked like he had a flat stomach,” Smith said. “It’s shameful. There’s chefs in New Orleans — I’m not exaggerating, I’m quoting people — there’s chefs in New Orleans that love him. They seek him out. Every chef wants to meet him because they know he’s going to come to their restaurant. Rumor has it that Zion Williamson is going to eat the table.”
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Smith clearly stated that Williamson “looked fat” and reiterated that Williamson had a “belly.”
“Like when he took a deep breath, his belly bounced. That kind of belly,” Smith said. “What’s going on, Zion? It’s bad enough getting your ass kicked… But you look like you came into the game after eating a buffet. Not something from the buffet, I said the buffet. Like you ate the damn table.”
Smith’s comments, he said, reached Williamson’s father-in-law, who called Smith shortly after the initial comments. Williamson said “everyone is entitled to their opinion” and thanked those who offered criticism, generally if it came from a “good place.”
Unfortunately for Williamson, the talk from Smith and others will only grow louder if he can’t keep his weight down or stay on the court. The Pelicans are scheduled to open the season Oct. 23 against the Chicago Bulls.
