During the NBA Cup, ESPN analysts Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon targeted Zion Williamson, criticizing his weight and performance. The duo even quoted alleged sources and made personal remarks about Williamson.
Stephen A. Smith hypes up Zion Williamson turnaround while Michael Wilbon can’t let go of fat jokes https://t.co/6AxifabhLZ pic.twitter.com/Hc6VxxUqzY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2024
The New Orleans Pelicans defended their star player, mocking Smith’s college basketball career. Eventually, Smith apologized to Williamson’s stepfather.
However, after a recent win by Williamson and the Pelicans, Smith praised his season and stated that New Orleans could reach the Finals. Wilbon, on the other hand, did not follow suit.
On a talk show, he made a joke about Williamson’s weight, disregarding a report about his weight loss.
Contrast between two top ESPN hosts and NBA studio analysts yesterday on Zion Williamson
Stephen A. Smith gives Zion props for turning his season around … while Michael Wilbon makes the same fat joke for the 50th time pic.twitter.com/hLGFcKw6qJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 19, 2024
Smith, who aimed to uplift Williamson, has changed his stance, acknowledging that Williamson needs to address his weight and conditioning.
Pelicans’ leadership has also emphasized the need for Williamson to adjust his training due to past injuries.
While Smith is correcting his views, Wilbon continues to make jokes about Williamson’s weight.
It can be suggested that Wilbon should let go of the joke and move on.
Fans reacted as follows.
Wilbon and SAS are fossils that can't be expected to watch games that start after 6 pm. They don't know current ball beyond what a producer gives them an hour before a show. But keep covering them like real analysts
— BennyLava19 (@Lava19Benny) March 19, 2024
Not surprised that Awful Announcing created a stretch of a post. That wasn’t even a true segment it was an outro to a commercial with throwaway lines on PTI. Stephen A. was giving a legit take. Would say do better, but that’s a waste of my time.
— Invest and Bet on Yourself (@jacobkthomas) March 20, 2024
Wilbon stays living in the past. When Jacque Vaughn got fired this year his whole rant was about how kyrie Irving was the reason while kyrie Irving hadn’t been on the team since the previous season
— Corey = Ratings (@Corey14K) March 19, 2024
credit stephen a.
says all the time he just wants to see players maximize potential, and never fails to give credit where it’s due@stephenasmith 👏
— ad🗽 (@ADxSZN) March 19, 2024
Might just be, but I feel like he was agreeing that Zion lost weight when he said “just by looking at him.” And the latter part wasn’t a joke just something he was told in the past citing his sources at very end.
I don’t see why this is even a subject tbh
— Paully Paul (@Deemoloooo) March 19, 2024
Was there nothing going on in sports yesterday that Zion’s weight had to be brought up at least twice?
— Paul Moehringer (@PMoehringer) March 19, 2024
Surprised Wilbon stepped away from the strip club to make that take
— Mike McGrevey (@MikeMcGrevey) March 19, 2024
Damn I would’ve expected the opposite
— Carlos Ramon (@iamtero99) March 19, 2024
I really wonder why PTI still has a notable youth audience when both hosts have old man opinions.
— a bloo (@vlime286) March 19, 2024
Ozempic is a hell of a drug.
— JP Luevano (@JPtri70_3) March 19, 2024
Fire Stephen A
— Sports Sage (@fredteamg) March 19, 2024
Wilbon is right. Zion needs to prove he can stay in shape. He has yet to do that.
— Steven Snell🦈 (@harbs16) March 19, 2024
ESPN is hard to watch and especially hard to listen to. No more superstars, no more must see/hear anchors. How some of them have jobs is incredible.
— Jamie C Rodriguez (@jamiecr0driguez) March 19, 2024
Duh. @RealMikeWilbon is 💯. WTFU He’s been covering the sport longer, and more competently.
— Mediamiscues (@the1mediamogul) March 19, 2024
whine u to criticize a Black man’s opinion u twerp
— Rob (@robelliott6) March 19, 2024
