In a surprise appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast (YouTube link), Pelicans forward Zion Williamson admitted he’s struggled to this point with the discipline required for healthy eating habits, as Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com relays.
“It’s hard, man,” Williamson said. “I’m 20, 22, have all the money in the world — well, it feels like all the money in the world. It’s hard.
“I’m at that point now, because of certain things, I’m putting back the wisdom around me. I don’t want to say older because they get defensive, but I’m putting people around me with wisdom. Put me on game to certain things. And just go from there.”
The former first overall pick has been limited to 114 games over his four NBA seasons due to a variety of injuries. Williamson, whose five-year rookie scale max extension starts in 2023/24, acknowledges he has to make changes going forward.
“Like (former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski) taught me, I have to own up to my responsibilities,” Williamson said. “There are a lot of things I could have done better. I didn’t. I’m in the process of fixing those wrongs.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- The Pelicans are focused on expanding Dyson Daniels‘ offensive repertoire as he enters his second season, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “It’s important to feature Dyson and expand (him) in his role,” Pelicans coach Casey Hill said before Summer League play started. “That’s what you’re going to see in Vegas. We are going to give him the basketball. Put him in decision-making situations. And build him from there.” The 20-year-old guard has struggled with efficiency through three games in Las Vegas, but holds impressive all-around averages of 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks.
- Ben Sullivan has had a unique journey to becoming an NBA assistant coach, and it’s an opportunity he doesn’t take for granted, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscriber link). “You hear people talk about this. ‘Find your passion. Find your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ I actually am lucky enough to believe that,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t feel like a job. I feel like I’m doing what I love doing, doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Whatever form or capacity it ends up being, I love being in the gym and working with the guys. I love what I do.” As Feigen writes, Sullivan’s wife pushed him to consider coaching while he was working at a construction company, and he got his start teaching sixth graders the game. The new Rockets assistant has been part of two championships during his 10 seasons in the NBA, including eight as an assistant.
- Point guard McKinley Wright will miss the remainder of Summer League after spraining his left ankle, the Mavericks announced (via Twitter). Wright is currently an unrestricted free agent after spending the past two seasons on two-way deals with Minnesota and Dallas, respectively.
What a crock of bs Zion because if u want to keep making that money and had any respect for ur teammate and fans you’d do whatever you needed to do also with all that money hire a personal chef and dietitian
Yes, because twenty-somethings with loads of money are well known for their judgement and restraint. Have you never met a person in your life?
Except he’s been in the league for years now. At some point, the excuses ring hollow, particularly when there has been a clear association between his weight and his health. Yes, he’s saying the right things now but we’ll have to see it to believe it.
And whether or not it’s fair to judge him is, ultimately, irrelevant. The NBA is where the best basketball players in the world play. That includes not just the top talent, but some of the hardest working, highest work ethic, and most dedicated people relative to their craft. If Zion can’t or won’t come close to matching their level of dedication, that will always cap him. I’m not saying there isn’t hope for him moving forward, but the clock is ticking.
I do have to say, though, that the Pelicians look pretty foolish here if what Zion says is true, ie he’s NOW finally putting wise people around him. Shouldn’t the Pelicans have been ensuring that from the very beginning? Were they so afraid of rocking the boat that they let him be led astray by those in his sphere of influence? I realize there is only so much they can/should control as it’s his life to live, but it doesn’t sound like they’ve done a good enough job relative to managing his weight.
Shame on the Pels for paying him. Ain’t worth his weight in paper
Normally the diet and body fall off immediately after their career is over (Joe Dumars ballooned) but before it even began? Disappointing for that franchise
Plenty of guys have struggled with their weight in the NBA. Glenn Davis, Kendrick Perkins, Barkley, Shawn Kemp, Bryant Reeves, Shaq… all strong interior players who used their size to their advantage. As Zion does. The difference with him is that his weight problems are making it hard for him to stay on the floor because he’s nowhere near the height/frame of those guys, so his knees and feet can’t take it.
Charles Barkley is 6’4”
Yes eating is more important than a career in the NBA. What is so hard about getting a chef.
Williamson is CLUELESS
Disrespectful to other stars who also had loads of money in their twenties yet came to training camp in shape (most of the rest of players do actually). The only one who would show up with overweight was Shaq, but he was just too good
No empathy at all in these comments I guess. Good for Zion owning up to a flaw and taking steps to fix it. Way more than what a lot of other people do.
Completely agree, I’d be willing to bet that he’s in better shape than 98% of the people commenting.
While I could GAF about whether Zion is in shape or not, that’s entirely irrelevant as most commenters aren’t paid to be in shape. He gets paid money to perform as an athlete, and it’s hard to do that if you’re overweight.
I work for myself in a creative profession and if I am tired or hungover, I don’t get anything done. If I were to be like “man I know you paid me to do that job, but I’ve been boozing and eating gummies all week, it’s awfully hard not to once you paid me all that money” It wouldn’t go over well.
If it was a decent company and you admitted to them you had addiction problems they’d give a leave of absence so you could go to rehab or therapy.
You missed the part where I said I work for myself.
People pay me money… much of it upfront…to do a job. Do I do the job they paid me to do? Or do I take their money and hit the bar?
Gets paid to perform as an ELITE athlete. Who has made a guaranteed 230 mill. From rookie contract till next 5 yrs. More than enough to pay off strippers ……
You’ve never had a hard job or a job you failed to do?
Yeh kid, everyone gets a trophy
Let’s be clear about something: Zion’s not taking it solely upon himself to fix his flaw. He’s replacing the many talented people around him and making it their job to help fix his flaw. If only we all had such a luxury, I imagine society would be far better off. Does it make his struggles any less real? No. But his wealth is still an immensely value tool to have available.
Yes, ultimately, overcoming his demons will require Zion to put in the work. And I hope he does overcome them. But I also don’t understand why I should be made to feel guilty for not dispensing empathy simply because he’s made a couple of statements admitting he has a problem? There’s nothing particularly special in doing that, especially when this is an issue that has plagued him for years and was well-known to anyone loosely following the NBA. This isn’t exactly akin to a closeted alcoholic publicly admitting they have a drinking issue and risking shame and embarrassment.
I get the struggles with temptation. I do. When you’re as rich and as famous as he is, there are going to be a lot of them, and many folks would struggle with that. So, for that reason, I’m not going to vilify him or poke fun at his struggles. At the same time, I’m not going to celebrate potentially empty words, either. Some folks tried doing that with Ja because he made a couple of nicely-worded statements, going so far as to call the rest of us cold-hearted for taking a wait-and-see approach, and look how that turned out.
Has all the money in the world and no intent on being on the basketball court…
If food is more important than basketball, that’s a big red flag…
Gotta feel for Pelicans fans…
All that hype and it’s taken this long for this revelation…
He probably made the surprise appearance to kill time waiting for his Uber eats to show up
Dyson Daniel’s is basically Josh Giddey 2.0
Great defender, great rebounder, good playmaker, not a huge scoring threat but gets buckets and has a very good basketball IQ.
Personally I’m a really big fan of guys like Daniels and Trey Murphy, I think both guys could be future all stars. I also like Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance, Jose and Herb, I just can’t stand Zion Williamson anymore.
He’s never in shape, never fit, always with some kinda excuse and coming at it with some pity me, I’m making changes I’m going to be better type crap. Like nah bro, In his career he’s played 114 games for the pelicans out of a possible 314.
Klay Thompson in that same period has played 136 games and he only played the last year and a half even Ben Simmons has played 169 games during that period.
Zions getting 35 mil a year and he only plays a third of his teams games. I see the potential in him but with this young core you have and while he’s still got this stupidly high value I’d be moving him as soon as possible.
One idea could be Zion for KAT and 2 first round picks
Daniel’s CJ Ingram Herb KAT
Behind them
Jose Hawkins Trey Marshall Nance
Deal Big V for more picks and expiring deals.
Daniel’s and Herbs lacks of good shooting is helped but having a shooter like KAT at the 5. KAT’s lack of defence is helped by Herb, Ingram and Daniel’s. Both players desperately need a change of scenery. TWolves would be well set with ANT and Zion, plus guys like Gobert, McDaniels and Conley
Interesting trade idea, but the comparison to 2 of the worst injury stories in the NBA puts Zion’s career in perspective, nice call. He needs to start earning his money. It’s no different than if he had a drug problem, honestly.