Williamson is averaging 22.2 points per game in 19 contests this season, which would be a career low. It was clear the 23-year-old did not look in tip-top shape during Thursday’s In-Season Tournament semifinals, when he scored just 13 points and struggled to quickly move up and down the floor.
According to The Times-Picayune, the Pelicans have “repeatedly” told the 2019 first overall pick his diet and conditioning need to improve, but he “doesn’t listen.”
“It’s hard,” Williamson said over the summer when asked about eating healthy and staying in top physical shape.
“I’m at that point now, because of certain things, I’m putting back the wisdom around me.”
Zion Williamson ‘doesn’t listen’ when Pelicans ask him to improve diet, conditioning, per report https://t.co/yTBA1WOwDB
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 8, 2023
In his first four seasons, Williamson played in 24, 61, zero and 29 games. Zion Williamson made headlines for all the wrong reasons after the Pelicans’ 133—89 defeat to the Lakers in the NBA in-season tournament Thursday, as the forward’s lackluster effort again prompted questions about his effort, diet and conditioning.
Fellow TNT commentator Shaquille O’Neal chimed in, saying the New Orleans big man “doesn’t have that look.” Fans pointed to Williamson’s fitness and accused him of being out of shape.
The Pelicans have reportedly “repeatedly stressed” to Williamson the need to improve in these areas, but the talented forward “doesn’t listen,” per Christian Clark of The Times-Picayune.
Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, oozed potential coming out of Duke as a 6’6” big man with serious bounce and athleticism around the rim.
It’s not the first time Williamson, listed at 284 pounds, has been a topic of discussion because of his diet and weight.
Zion Williamson’s weight and fitness level are a concern for the New Orleans Pelicans, who were blown out by the Los Angeles Lakers in the In-Season Tournament semifinals on Thursday as Williamson, in a slow-motion state of unapologetic apathy for most of the night, put up 13 listless points on eight shots.
Most of all the Pelicans, who gave Zion a five-year, potential $231 million contract extension despite his only having played in 85 games over the first three years of his career are expecting, or hoping for, a proper return on their investment.
Williamson’s poor worth ethic has been a source of frustration for the Pelicans since they drafted him No. 1 in 2019.
The Pelicans have tried to surround Williamson with veterans who have track records of maximizing their potential. The Pelicans have repeatedly stressed to Williamson that his diet and conditioning need to improve.
Williamson, multiple team sources have told The Times-Picayune, “doesn’t listen.” Whether the Pelicans have had to enforce this clause, or if they ever actually would, is unknown.
“This was the first summer where we’ve seen Zion take his profession seriously like that and invest in it off the court on his own in a way that I think is meaningful,”
Pelicans president David Griffin said in September.
Even if Zion’s numbers look decent: 22.2 PPG, 5.6 REB, 4.8 AST on 57% shooting. For a guy with Williamson’s power and athletic advantage, those are bare minimum numbers. The TNT guys criticized Zion for not running hard, and it’s true.
Shaquille O’Neal was poignant in his message about “not running hard” to Zion. O’Neal said he was the same way early in his career when he thought he was running hard but actually wasn’t. Williamson may believe he’s playing, for the most part, with full effort, but the tape doesn’t lie.
Shaq on Zion Williamson’s play on the court: I was just like him.”
S$h@qasfregre pic.twitter.com/Aa4sgYLgFV
— Diamond Dog (@DiamondDogzzz) December 8, 2023
Redick, who, as mentioned, played with Zion in New Orleans and has been critical of him on multiple occasions through the prism of his not maximizing his tremendous potential, expressed similar disappointment in Zion’s commitment to his profession on Friday.
“The reality is Zion Williamson has not bought in to his own career yet.” — JJ Redick on Zion pic.twitter.com/0kqqhm8IG5
It seems like the Pelicans might have a real Zion Williamson problem. He just doesn’t seem to be playing as hard as he possibly could. He even admitted himself that he just didn’t play up to his standard after the game. Now, it seems, this might not actually be an effort problem.
The team has also reportedly given Williamson advice about his conditioning and diet, but it’s gone in one ear and out the other.
“The Pelicans have repeatedly stressed to Williamson that his diet and conditioning need to improve.”
This isn’t the first time Williamson’s conditioning has been brought up as an issue. But if the Pelicans are trying to help Williamson manage his body and he’s just not listening.
It makes the prospect of the team potentially trying to move on from Williamson one that doesn’t seem quite as farfetched as it did over the summer.
