Article: [Zion Williamson 2.0: Inside the ‘Dark Days’ That Sparked the NBA Star’s Stunning Transformation](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/11/zion-williamson-pelicans-return-daily-cover?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_5273418)
> Zion is out of shape, they said (albeit in much harsher terms). Zion isn’t committed to the game. Zion isn’t committed to New Orleans. Zion is detached from his teammates. The physical recovery was hard enough. The negativity was suffocating.
> “I was in dark places at times,” Williamson says, “because I couldn’t play basketball. I could only do limited rehab things. And then just seeing how the world reacted? It took a lot. It did a lot on my spirit.”
Great read. Really put into perspective the rampant speculation these high profile athletes are subject to, even when they’re away from the game.
by lopea182
30 Comments
Reap what you sow nephews, he comin
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Kinda bs. All he had to do was come out once and say he was committed to new orleans. Instead he went radio silent and let the speculation grow like crazy. All that speculation went away when he finally spoke
All these injured hoopers have been going to dark places lately. Fellas, just do the rehab and enjoy the rest of your awesome life!
I’m so happy he’s on the Pels and I hope he goes the fuck off on the league this year
Funny how this sub thinks just because athletes are rich that any problem or issue they have doesn’t phase them because they have money
This thread is already a shitshow, fuck these losers
People were incredibly shitty about Zion. When he starts destroying people keep that same energy bc I have a feeling his legion of fans about to swell again.
My single biggest wish for this season (other than another Bucks championship) is a healthy Zion.
Dude was unbelievable in the one season we really got to see him play.
If I was a nba star I would delete all social media, block all bullshit sports tv shows and podcasts, and laugh at all the clowns while I swim in cash like Scrooge McDuck
Every time one of these articles come out suddenly half the thread wants to act like they don’t also contribute to what he’s talking about. Gimme a break with the high horse shit.
The other half? People joking about “dark places.”
Both of y’all suck.
I bet it (how he handled the dark period) brings out the diamond in his career. He will have a great season.
Pretty easy to forget that some of these kids are barely 20 years old. I’m sure seeing all of the negativity people were spitting out about his physical appearance really did get to him. These people are insanely talented and receive a lot of life perks for that talent, but they’re still people at the end of the day. I’m glad it seems Zion is back on track and can’t wait to watch him this season.
Same here, except I had to go to my shitty office job instead of making 150 million dollars
I’m not surprised by the comments here. This is the same sub that hated on Ben Simmons for his mental issues.
How many of these articles have to come out before people stop constantly shitting on athletes for everything, especially shit that’s entirely speculation? Probably an infinite amount because the internet values “lolz memes” over a player’s well-being.
Now’s the time when everyone here is gonna pretend like they weren’t the ones making jokes and comments and feeding the exact negativity he’s talking about. And then when it inevitably happens to the next star athlete they’ll be there again feeding the negativity like nothing’s changed.
For being number one picks with multiple seasons sidelined, Zion has a better grasp of being sympathized with than Ben Simmons. Zion is being straight up vulnerable with expressing how he felt with media/fan/league talk where as Ben is still sort of putting up a front and makes it harder to connect with him
This is the start of his new shinobi origin story.
A lot of r/nba are just unlikeable assholes with no self awareness
This is his ninja way!
Damn, bullied like he got a tailed beast in him
My MVP pick tbh
Yall are bitches. We let athletes off way too much. Ain’t heard noone sit a year out from their 9-5 for mental health. These guys get a off-season and days to sit out of games to get paid millions. Fuck #metoo
Lol yea negativity is toxic and sucks ass. People are negative as fuck nowadays and most of the negative people are the ones who can’t take an ounce of criticism themselves.
Sad times we live in, and the media both perpetuates it and also acts like they’re saints and the nice guys all in one go.
The cognitive dissonance and mental gymnastics we see now is wild.
> Less than 60 seconds later, Zion Williamson is back where he started, darting across an invisible finish line, having easily beaten his goal for his last quarter-mile dash of the morning. “That’s elite!” enthuses a third voice—his stepfather and coach, Lee Anderson.
DAMN! Sub 60s quarter-mile is pretty quick for anyone
Where are you fatshaming bitches come out and talk now
People wishing hell on teenagers who are just trying to succeed in their career will always amaze me.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who needed a moment to remember who Williamson is lol I’m so used to only calling and hearing him be called Zion.
Pelicans might be the side team I root for since I know my team isn’t doing shit this year. Zion, BI, and Cj are just super likable dudes
I hope he stays healthy the whole year. It’s revenge season baby.