NBA fans might see a different vision Zion Williamson on the field this coming season. At least a slimmer one, judging by photos posted on social media on Saturday.
Williamson was photographed posing with children attending his basketball camp (for free) in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and appeared noticeably thinner, although that may have been due to the angle the photo was taken from.
Fans worry that Williamson may look too thin — and that he may have less of the power that made him a college basketball sensation at Duke and the No. 1 overall pick this season. 2019 NBA Draft — could be reassured by other photos and videos taken from the camp.
Williamson reportedly said he currently weighs 281 pounds, down from his Duke weight of 285 pounds, and that he plans to weigh 272 pounds when the NBA regular season begins.
The 6 foot 6 inch The New Orleans Pelicans The star weighed 300 pounds last season, but many believed he was overweight and out of shape, especially after watching him play in the NBA tournament during the season. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Nealwith ESPN’s Stephen A. Smithhave been particularly critical of Williamson’s weight and fitness during New Orleans’ crushing defeat 133-89 At The Los Angeles Lakers.
Encouraged by this public criticism, Williamson lost more than 25 pounds from that point on, according to the New Orleans Times-PicayuneHe went on to play a career-high 70 games, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the season.
Zion Williamson’s stepfather told C. Ruff today at camp that he currently weighs 281 pounds (285 at Duke) and will weigh 272 by the start of the season 💪🏾
Here we go Z. Great season loading 💯 pic.twitter.com/iaYKyw8B2W
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) August 18, 2024
Those point and rebound totals may be lower, but staying healthy has been a big step for the fifth-year forward, who missed the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury. Williamson also played fewer than 30 games in two of his other previous seasons.
A big shoutout to NBA All-Star and South Carolina native Zion Williamson as he enters a free basketball camp he’s hosting this weekend in Spartanburg. He jokes as he leaves, “I’m a little nervous right now.” pic.twitter.com/rBDMwmJ8Mu
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) August 17, 2024
“It was a really great moment for me,” Williamson told reporter Christian Clark: about the public outcry. “I didn’t look at anyone else. I looked at myself. I take full responsibility for that.”
“I wasn’t where I needed to be,” he added. “I didn’t play the way I needed to. I think it was one of those things that I needed to experience because it definitely changed a lot for me over the course of the season.”
The Pelicans’ 2024-25 season begins Oct. 23 with a home game against the The Chicago Bulls. Training camp begins for the Belmont University team in Nashville on October 1.
