The old adage “Silence is golden” has made this summer a peaceful one. The New Orleans Pelicans Star Zion Williamson. New Orleans opens its regular season next month at home against the Chicago Bulls, and most of the biggest stories surrounding this team don’t paint Williamson in a negative light. This summer has proven to be beneficial for the former No. 1 overall pick, both physically and mentally.
Chris Conner of Boot Krewe Media revealed those who were in the camp of Zion “I had a conversation with someone in Zion’s camp who told me that not only did he have his best physical offseason, but he also had his best mental offseason.”
Williamson is currently in Asia on tour with the Jordan brand He helped grow the NBA internationally. Videos circulated on social media of him visiting the Great Wall of China. Williamson took a moment to reflect on the landscape around him and proclaimed: “If I lived here (in China), this would definitely be my escape. I would try to come here at least every other day.”
In recent years, Williamson has had to “escape” the scrutiny surrounding his weight and injury history. Before last season, the former Duke star played a total of 29 games over a two-year span. Then, off-the-field stories revolving around former adult actress Moriah Mills plunged Williamson into a whirlwind of controversy and social media analysis.
During the season, his weight was questioned by former NBA greats Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. “He’s got two players on his team that are better than him and they shouldn’t be,” Barkley said, referring to Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum after the NBA’s in-season tournament. “He should be the best player and he’s not even close.”
Williamson found better form as the season progressed, but injuries hit him again in the play-in tournament. He injured his hamstring and was forced to sit out the playoffs as his team was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Pelicans star averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists in 70 regular-season games. The assists and games played were career highs for Williamson.
This summer, the double All-Star is in his best form since universityWilliams’ stepfather told reporters the Pelicans star is down to 281 pounds, which is lighter than his 285-pound college weight. The goal is to get him down to 272 pounds before the season starts.
A healthier and more fit Williamson could be a problem for the rest of the NBA. Zion seems to be a man at peace. His daughter was born last season and he smiles every time he talks about her. There has been no off-court drama this summer and his focus is on making the Pelicans a true Western Conference contender. The news around Zion may be quiet at the moment, but his play on the court will speak volumes about New Orleans this season.
