In the past few days, Stephen A. Smith has unleashed a series of scathing monologues aimed at Zion Williamson, following the basketball star’s lackluster performances in the NBA Cup and his team’s disappointing losses. Rather than dissecting Williamson’s on-court struggles in terms of his playing style or team dynamics, Smith has taken a different, more personal approach – repeatedly calling Williamson “fat.”
Smith’s critiques have been quite pointed. He dedicated an entire podcast episode to the topic, titled “Zion is fat,” and made references to Williamson’s apparent love for food, even claiming to have insider knowledge from New Orleans chefs. Smith didn’t hold back, recounting moments where he observed Williamson’s stomach protruding during games and suggesting that his eating habits might be affecting his performance on the court.
Stephen A. Smith really wants you to know he thinks Zion Williamson is fat https://t.co/anx13oGD95 pic.twitter.com/MARiqtQQuB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 12, 2023
In one of his impassioned rants, Smith highlighted Williamson’s high rate of missed games and implied that his weight might be a contributing factor. He didn’t mince words, emphasizing his belief that Williamson’s supposed overeating is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed.
While Smith sees his approach as necessary tough love, not everyone agrees. Some argue that there are better ways to critique Williamson’s game without resorting to personal attacks. After all, there are plenty of examples in sports media of analysts offering insightful analysis and criticism without crossing into personal territory.
