When The New Orleans Pelicans When it comes to star Zion Williamson, one of the topics that always comes up is his weight. Ever since he burst onto the high school basketball scene with his thunderous dunks, people have marveled at his combination of size and athleticism.
Due to Williamson’s size, many wondered if his body would be able to withstand the rigors of an NBA season. So far, the results have been extremely mixed.
The first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft out of Duke played just 24 games as a rookie due to injuries. He was able to appear in 61 games the following season, but missed the entire 2021-22 campaign with another foot injury.
He was only able to play 29 games in 2022-23, but his incredible talent was showcased and he still earned a spot in the All-Star Game. Last season, he played a career-high 70 games, but suffered another injury that kept him out of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
This is the third season in five as a pro where Williamson has missed more than half the games. If the Pelicans are going to reach the heights they are capable of, they need their star on the roster consistently.
It will be easier to avoid injuries given the transformation Williamson is undergoing with his body. A photo of him at his summer camp went viral because how thin he seemed.
Zion appears to be in the best shape of his life pic.twitter.com/itoH2tMuQ8
— Ingram Alerts (@IngramAlerts) August 17, 2024
According to an update shared by Yahoo Sports’ Ian Casselberry, the weight loss is legit. Casselberry revealed that Williamson now weighs 281 pounds, which is down from his reported playing weight at Duke, which was 285.
He’s reportedly lost at least 25 pounds since December, after being on that streak for more than eight months. Casselberry added that Williamson aims to weigh 272 pounds when the 2024-25 regular season begins in October.
Zion Williamson Reportedly Lost Over 25 Pounds Since December 💪 pic.twitter.com/wFaWZ9YemK
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 19, 2024
We often hear about players getting back into shape and working on their game during the offseason. But it’s no exaggeration to say that Williamson is in the best shape of his life, based on some photos that have gone viral.
Last season, he weighed 284 pounds, but many people would have said that number was low. He looked out of shape at 284 pounds and was lethargic at times on the field, leading to public criticism from Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith.
After a crushing defeat against the The Los Angeles Lakers During the in-season NBA tournament, rumors about Williamson’s weight were at their strongest. This game took place on December 7, 2023, and was the wake-up call that made him realize he needed to start taking his weight seriously to become the best version of himself.
