ESPN’s co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe spoke on the Club Shay Shay podcast before their debut appearance together on the sets of First Take. The two experts had a brief discussion regarding Zion Williamson during the episode. While Sharpe likened the 284-pound New Orleans Pelicans player to Charles Barkley, Stephen A. couldn’t help but wonder about Zion’s passion for the game.
Since the New Orleans Pelicans picked him with the No. 1 selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion’s conditioning and drive have been heavily questioned.
Stephen A. Smith:
“If Zion Williamson was in New York… we’d see a more dedicated Zion.”
(via @ClubShayShay) pic.twitter.com/S10Un27p2Q
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 5, 2023
Smith believes that the 23-year-old’s prospects of development would improve if he played for an NBA franchise with a larger market appeal. Smith, a Knicks fan, added, “I believe if he was in New York…we’d see a more dedicated Zion to his physicality.”
Zion Williamson appears to be plagued by problems as he was also involved in several dramatic events in May. Adult movie star Moriah Mills and Zion were allegedly dating, according to screenshots Mills uploaded online of their conversations. She threatened to release their s*x recordings later in June. The threat from the adult film star appears to have been futile since her Twitter account has since been suspended.
However, Williamson putting on a lot of weight must have been concerning for the Pelicans. The front office will be hoping that Zion is in good enough form to suit up for training camp now that the southpaw has been cleared to take the field. However, Smith’s suggestion of New York may pique the interest of certain SAS supporters who want to see Williamson in a Knicks jersey.
Has Zion Williamson been cutting down recently?
Zion has experienced several personal troubles as a result of his poor management of his sudden popularity as a pro athlete. Keeping a specific body composition, which precludes him from playing at the highest level, has been one of his most difficult challenges. Along with that came significant injuries and a vortex of hatred that peaked in 2023.
Following two injury-plagued seasons, Zion Williamson is working hard to prepare his body for the 2023–24 season. Will Guillory of The Athletic is one of the most in-depth sources on the New Orleans Pelicans, and he has new information on Zion’s preparation for next season.
According to his knowledge, he posted photos of Zion’s most recent exercise while also describing his goal. His major objective is to develop a strong and flexible physique that can withstand future injuries.
Been hearing good things about the work Zion’s putting in this summer.
Was told he’s been really focused on making sure his body is prepared for a long season. Think he’s gonna come in with a chip on his shoulder. pic.twitter.com/m1bkf4bhyc
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) September 1, 2023
In addition to court work, his physical conditioning has been based on a combination of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and weight training. Gaining greater agility is a top priority for Williamson and all of his trainers; he wants to be the same athlete he was during college.
This season is shaping up to be critical for Williamson as he attempts to establish himself as a reliable NBA standout. Due to injuries, he only appeared in 114 games in his first four seasons. Williamson has only played in 29 games over the last two seasons. He missed the whole 2021–22 season due to a Jones fracture in his foot, which necessitated off-season surgery.