Zion Williamson’s apparent weight loss draws attention on social media

Zion Williamson’s apparent weight loss draws attention on social media

Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans’ star forward and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has recently drawn widespread attention on social media due to a noticeable transformation in his physique. Over the weekend, photos of Williamson at his basketball camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina, sparked conversation among fans and analysts alike. In these images, Zion appeared significantly slimmer, a stark contrast to his previously more robust build that had been a point of criticism throughout his NBA career.

The 6-foot-6 forward reportedly said he now weighs 281 pounds, which is slightly less than the 285 pounds he carried during his standout season at Duke. Williamson has set a goal to slim down further to 272 pounds by the start of the NBA regular season. This comes after a particularly challenging period in his career when his conditioning and weight became topics of intense scrutiny.

During the previous NBA season, Zion was officially listed at 284 pounds, but many observers speculated that he was carrying extra weight, which they believed was affecting his performance and durability. The criticism reached a peak following the Pelicans’ humiliating 133–89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA in-season tournament. During that game, sports commentators, including TNT’s Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, along with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, were particularly vocal about Williamson’s conditioning. Their comments echoed the concerns of fans who worried that Zion’s size was hindering his ability to stay healthy and perform at his best.

Motivated by the public criticism, Williamson committed to making significant changes. According to the *New Orleans Times-Picayune*, he has since lost over 25 pounds. This effort to slim down seems to have paid off, as Williamson managed to play a career-high 70 games last season—a significant milestone for a player whose career has been marred by injuries. He averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, which, while slightly lower than his previous numbers, were impressive given his improved ability to stay on the court.

Reflecting on the criticism and his subsequent transformation, Williamson acknowledged that the harsh feedback was a turning point for him. “That was definitely a big moment for me,” Williamson told reporter Christian Clark. He admitted that the criticism prompted a period of self-reflection, leading him to take full responsibility for his conditioning. “I didn’t look at anybody else. I looked at myself. I’ll take full blame for that,” he said. “I wasn’t where I needed to be. I didn’t perform the way I needed to perform. I think it was one of those things I needed to experience because it definitely changed a lot for me during the season.”

As the Pelicans prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season, which kicks off on October 23 with a home game against the Chicago Bulls, all eyes will be on Zion Williamson. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how his renewed focus on fitness will translate into his performance on the court. The Pelicans will hold their training camp at Belmont University in Nashville beginning on October 1, where Williamson’s progress will be closely monitored. This season, for Zion, is not just about proving his talent—something never in doubt—but also about demonstrating his ability to maintain the physical condition necessary to sustain a long and successful career in the NBA.