Zion Williamson is back and better than ever.
He recently ran a basketball camp for kids in South Carolina, and those who saw him said he looked the fittest they’ve ever seen. A leaner Zion on TV screens is a scary thought for other NBA teams.
Zion ๐๐ช
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ian Casselberry, Zion told the media at the camp that he aims to weigh 272 pounds for the next NBA season. If he sticks to this plan, he’ll be nearly 30 pounds lighter than last season.
Zion Williamson has reportedly lost over 25 pounds since December ๐ช
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)
A slimmer Zion could be unstoppable on the court. His weight loss will help his stamina, something he’s struggled with in his five-year career. Poor conditioning has often led to late-game struggles for him and his team. When tired, his defense also suffers, forcing Coach Willie Green to bench him during critical moments.
Wake-Up Call:
Criticism from ESPN’s Stephen A Smith might have sparked this transformation. After a tough loss to the Lakers last season, Smith made harsh comments about Zion’s eating habits. This body-shaming pushed Zion to start losing weight in December 2023, showing results by the end of that season.
“That was definitely a big moment for me,” Zion told NOLA.com after the season ended. “I didnโt look at anybody else. I looked at myself. I’ll take full blame for that.”
Even though the Pelicans didn’t win their play-in game, Zion impressed many with a 40-point performance before injuring his hamstring. Fans are excited to see if he can remind everyone why he was such a hyped prospect when drafted first overall by New Orleans in 2019.
He’s been in the spotlight for so long that it’s easy to forget he’s only 24 years old! What do you think about his comeback?
