Stephen A. Smith frankly revealed why Zion Williamson was unable to maintain his physical conditionStephen A. Smith and Zion Williamson (Image Credits: Getty Images)


The New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson has been a standout player for the team since he was first selected in the 2019 NBA draft. However, he has faced criticism from NBA fans, athletes, and analysts for his weight and bulky body shape. Nevertheless, things are set to change as the two-time NBA All-Star has shed some pounds during this offseason.

Williamson recently uploaded a photo of himself at his basketball camp in Spartanburg. The Pelicans star has lost significant weight, as shown in his viral shredded photos. While many NBA fans were amazed by Williamson’s weight loss and improved physique, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith also shared his opinion on the Pelicans star’s transformation.

In a recent episode of the Stephen A. Smith show, the host praised Williamson and made some bold predictions about him. Smith was brutally honest about why the 24-year-old forward couldn’t maintain his physique after his shredded photos went viral.


“I’m not exaggerating when I tell y’all you’ve got people in the NBA that say he was hiding food under his bed because the Pelicans obviously had people checking up on him to make sure he tried to engage in some level of containment when it came to his diet and that brother wasn’t trying to hear it,” Smith said.

According to StatMuse, Williamson, who became the fourth youngest NBA player to be selected to an All-Star game in 2021, averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 70 games during the 2023-24 season.

Smith Offers A Daring Prediction For Zion Williamson

Smith was surprised to see Williamson in good shape and predicted that the Pelicans would dominate the league next season.

“A healthy Zion Williamson with the New Orleans Pelicans, they ain’t losing no first round. So, it’s really good to see him in shape and taking it seriously. This is his career; he’s got his bag.” Smith added.

Williamson suffered a hamstring injury on January 2, 2023, which kept him from participating in his second NBA All-Star appearance. He was sidelined for the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season but made a full recovery in time for the 2023-24 season. With the next NBA season set to start in two months, fans are excited to see the new aesthetic version of Williamson back on the court.