The UGLY Truth About Zion Williamson (Ft. NBA Weight Loss)

Zion had a weight transformation in the NBA…but it’s not what you think.
Twitter- @MJ2KALLDAY

Everyone roasted him for this…Zion was injured, but he also let himself go more than he should have, close to 330 pounds.

But by March 2022, Zion had reportedly lost 24 pounds and was finally under 300 pounds. And right now, he’s looking similar to his rookie year, just more muscle.

Everyone forgot a couple of things. ****1. When healthy Zion was unstoppable. 2. Zion’s weight at 285 at 6’ 6” was always a concern even when coming into the NBA busting out shoes.

I’ve wanted to see Zion on the court for a while. And his teammates already saying Zion’s bullying them. But everyone is also forgetting the main issue.

Zion Williamson averaged 27 points on 65% true shooting, literally finished the season averaging more points in the paint than Shaq and Giannis. (*Giannis what the hell)* There wasn’t an answer for Zion despite having minimal spacing. I mean Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams were on the floor with Zion. The level of spacing Zion has now with CJ McCollum and an improved Brandon Ingram is scary.

It’s the combination of speed and verticality at Zion’s size which makes him a freak that’s capable of taking the ball from Giannis, but even that has its limits. Literally some anime stuff.

Zion just signed a max extension in July and part of the deal is that he would have weigh ins periodically throughout the entire 5 years. The sum of his weight and body fat percentage must be below 295…yeah, the Pelicans noticed the weight issues too

There were a lot of reasons why Zion didn’t care about his weight last season, especially with his dislike for what the organization was doing at the time, letting Lonzo go, the mistreatment of JJ Reddick. Remember all the rumors that Zion’s family wanted him out of New Orleans and Zion not even greeting his new teammate CJ. It was almost a big F u, but we don’t know all the details. What we do know is that Zion signed this extension and to get the full guaranteed amount, he needs to keep in shape.

Right now, Zion is listed at 6’ 6” 284 pounds, the same as when he came in. I don’t trust NBA weight records.

In 2019, Barkley, who’s been a Zion comparison, said that “He can’t play at 280 in the NBA. He can’t play at that weight, it’s too much stress on his knees. He’s so big and he’s so strong, but everybody in the NBA is big and strong.”

Reggie Miller said that Zion needed to lose 30 pounds. And right before the NBA bubble, we saw the lean Zion pics. He was reportedly around the 260 pounds mark. But then going into the bubble, Zion looked out of shape once again and had to be on a minute restriction.

Zion’s prior foot injury was non-contact, a stress fracture. And stress fractures are easy to repeat. He’s gravitated towards 285 pounds naturally, whether he gained 100 pounds in 2 years during high school into college.

Now I’m unable to find his exact current weight, just like Harden. Zion looks like he’s recomposed his body, more muscle, less fat. However, he still looks just as heavy as he did rookie year. Is he in better shape, absolutely. But this doesn’t solve the issue of his weight in his frame. His weight is literally too much for his legs and isn’t sustainable. If Zion is 265 pounds at 6’ 6” with his speed, he’s still going to be unstoppable. Joel Embiid said his ideal playing weight is 270-275 pounds and that man is 7’ and one of the strongest players in the NBA.

I want Zion to be a beast, to go crazy but he needs to be on the floor for that to happen. He needs to lose a little more weight. And he probably will over the course of the season. Most NBA players lose weight due to the constant games. However, Zion gains weight more easily than loses it. Repeated landing with this weight and stress fracture injury history is a recipe for disaster. The contract clause is an extra motivator and innovative so just in case the team ain’t doing enough.