No beignets or Po’ Boys: Zion’s path to fitness

He is one of the NBA’s biggest stars, but he’s not that big any more. Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans has dropped major weight and that has showed in the way he looks and the way he has been playing lately.

Zion sheds the weight

Zion has always been a big, bulky guy. That hasn’t stopped him from rattling off some high flying dunks and even becoming the third fastest active player to get to 5,000 points. Unfortunately the weight has become a factor when it comes to staying on the court.

Everyone knows New Orleans is a great place to eat. Zion is no exception. He ballooned up to 284 lbs at the start of the season, or at least that’s what NBA.com had registered him at. Reports are the Pelicans high flyer has trimmed down to 264 lbs which is the lightest he’s been since he was drafted.

New Orleans will be hoping he can keep that weight off. Williamson, as in other seasons, has been battling injury. He has played in 20 of NO’s 57 games, but it seems as though he has a different type of commitment to keep his body in better shape.

Zion up, Pelicans down bad

Williamson has come under criticism from ex-players, analysts and pundits for his failure to reach his full potential because problems with his fitness. Shaquille O’Neal has been one of his biggest “motivators” I think is the right word. He sees the potential in Zion, but he also sees the problem in Zion.

While this is hopefully great news for the long term, the short term is looking pretty bleak for the Pelicans. They have lost 11 of their last 13 and sit dead last in the Western Conference.

The season might be a lost cause, but the Pelicans will want him to finish the season strong, and keep fit heading into the offseason where it will be up to him to take care of his body.