New concerns have emerged about Zion Williamson‘s weight after a photo was tweeted from the Pelicans‘ game last week in Houston in which he looked larger than usual, writes Jenna Lemoncelli of The New York Post. Williamson hasn’t played yet this season while recovering from foot surgery, and he suffered another setback last week when soreness in the foot further delayed his return.
Meanwhile, there has been increased speculation about his bulkiness, which has been an issue dating back to his time in college. On Tuesday’s “Lowe Post” podcast with Zach Lowe, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said sources have told him that Williamson’s weight has ballooned to 330 pounds, well above his listed playing weight of 284.
In response to last week’s photo, a friend of Williamson tweeted out a different picture today at a youth basketball event in which the Pelicans star looks much lighter and called the weight controversy “fake news.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Brandon Ingram has been putting up big numbers over the Pelicans‘ last seven games, and he and new coach Willie Green agree it’s because they’ve figured out the best way to use him, per William Guillory of The Athletic. Despite being double teamed more frequently, Ingram is averaging 25.4 PPG over that stretch. “He’s just been playing at a higher level, playing faster, more aware of what’s going on around him,” Green said. “Really, there are times when he’s just taking over the game, which I love to see from him.”
- Injured Grizzlies star Ja Morant was placed into the league’s health and safety protocols today, but coach Taylor Jenkins isn’t worried about Morant’s health, according to Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Jenkins didn’t reveal if Morant tested positive for the virus, but said he recently got a booster shot and is feeling fine. “There’s still more testing to be done so it’s too early to know exactly how that’s going to impact timelines and all that stuff but there’s definitely rules,” Jenkins said. “That’s why fortunately he’s fully vaccinated and has his booster so whatever comes, hopefully there’s more positive for us, not testing wise.”
- Spurs guard Joshua Primo has seen some NBA action lately with Devin Vassell injured, but the organization plans to have him return to the G League, states Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express News. “We want him to have more time in Austin for obvious reasons,” coach Gregg Popovich said of the 18-year-old rookie. “He needs to mature in every way, shape and form because of his age. But, having said that, he has a confidence that belies his age. He’s pretty steady in his emotions, shows a great affinity for the game, understands what is going on better than most people, and he is willing to stick his nose in.”
Zion is looking more like an Oden-type bust with every report.
There’s a few athletes. That have ate their way out of pro sports. But when you are as talented as Zion. It’s really a catastrophe. It’s looking bad. 80 LBs is not easy to lose. Then there is playing shape. Harden is still getting in game shape. Since showing up overweight at Rockets pre camp. It’s a shame.
link to nypost.com
Too much video game playing and too many Mountain Dews!
They should try trading him to GSW, Kuminga, Wiseman, Moody.
Again is just the media trying to stir up news form nowhere just to sell their sad lil stories, right?
Zion is in good shape, as good as you can be while injured, him been fat is just fake news, & any reporter that claims that should be ashamed of themselves!
El Don did you see the pictures. Some just don’t want it bad enough. Zion has a chance to be a HOFer. Guess it’s not important enough.
zion is more like tv barkley than nba barkley.
There’s no such thing as “fake news”. I hate that term. There is news, rumors and lies.
The first pic is NEWS as is the second.
Reasonable people can inspect both and decide for themselves.
Fake News is a BS term that a con artist used extensively to keep his followers from reading any uncomplimentary comments.
If you buy into that broad concept you become a pawn easily manipulated.
Well said. It’s just a convenient term for folks to use whenever they (purposely) want to disagree with or disregard something, irrespective of whether it’s true or not. It says more about the individual than the news itself.
Perhaps more importantly here, as the blurb mentioned Zion’s weight has been an issue since college and coming off of injury it’s likely it has increased some by default. There’s no escaping that. How much is up for debate but in the end, Zion has been playing with a lot of weight on a smaller frame. It is a legitimate concern for someone who’s game is more reliant on athleticism than anyone else in the league.