SUMMARY
- Zion Williamson was been dealing with a lot of criticism regarding his weight.
- On Gilbert Arenas' podcast, the 2x All-Star admitted it was hard to maintain a diet.
It has been a tough ride for Zion Williamson, who was previously the No.1 overall pick during the 2019 NBA Draft. During his first stint, the world shut down due to the pandemic. However, Williamson struggled to get onto the floor due to injuries. It was around this time when fans noticed Zion’s horrible weight gain as well. After a solid return season, Williamson was struck with a couple of other injuries once again that kept him out for an entire season.
Despite making a full-fledged return during the 2022-23 season, he ended up needing surgery on his foot. This caused him to miss his second All-Star appearance as well, as the final half of the regular season. Experts and fans around him would critique his appearance as several images of an overweight Zion Williamson flooded the internet. It certainly wasn’t easy to witness a superstar like him go through trials like this. However, he accepted his flaws and went on to work on them.
Zion Williamson admitted that money is a major distraction
During an appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, Zion Williamson had the opportunity to openly speak about his unappealing weight gain and the criticism he received. He admitted it was hard to maintain a diet despite knowing that it wasn’t the right thing to do. He said, “There are times when I will say man that sh*t hard. It’s hard man. Like you’re 20, 22, got a lot of money. It feels like all the money in the world man. It is hard.”
However, the New Orleans Pelicans forward believes he’s in a better place now. He added, “But I’m at that point now where because of certain things I’m playing back. I’m putting people around me with wisdom. To put me on game with certain things and I just go up from there.” Despite facing zero setbacks this season, Williamson has only been a shell of himself on the court. This has also attracted a lot of criticism his way.
Zion Williamson has officially been listed under 300lbs
At one point during a long and agonizing recovery period, Zion Williamson gained a significant amount of weight. He was listed over 300 lbs at the time, which isn’t the ideal number for an athlete in the NBA. His weight also affected his ability to recover quickly. The injuries he faced mainly revolved around his knees and feet. For Williamson, that was a major setback considering that he’s hyper athletic.
ZION WILLIAMSON
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) February 23, 2024
Right now, Williamson has been officially listed at 284 lbs. Right now, Williamson claims he’s more open to harsh criticism as it helps him get his daily regiments set right. He’s been averaging 22.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game with one steal. If he manages to produce more, he could potentially run for MVP at some point.