Zion is starting to lose his luster with fans.
He’s going to miss the start of the season due to an injury, and he showed up a little overweight due to not being able to work out properly.
There are now reports that he showed up weighing over 300 pounds which is at least 17 pounds heavier than he was last year, where he was at 284, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.
This is the ever-important backdrop behind last Thursday’s news that Williamson won’t appear in New Orleans’ season opener Wednesday against Philadelphia, as part of a two-week-plus setback in his return from offseason foot surgery. There’s a strong belief in league circles that the Pelicans were unaware of that procedure until Williamson reported to New Orleans ahead of media day, although one team source contacted by B/R maintained the Pelicans and Williamson were aligned on the injury’s timeline.
And for all of his apparent gripes about New Orleans’ abundance of caution with his health, the combination of Williamson’s injury history and his fluctuating weight throughout his early career would concern any front office, especially a small-market nucleus so invested in his long-term availability to the franchise. The risk of reinjury is always too real and far too treacherous.
He’s since reached north of 300 pounds this offseason, sources said, again fueling concerns among New Orleans staffers similar to the months leading up to his rookie debut. When he joined the Pelicans’ recent preseason trip to Minnesota, several league personnel on hand were struck by his heavier appearance than his listed playing weight last season of 284 pounds. “I know Zion at 280, and he was not 280,” said one observer.
“These are the injuries you have to be the most concerned about, a foot injury for a guy with noted weight issues,” said one Western Conference executive.
He’ll probably be able to work himself back into shape, but the fans aren’t too happy because they don’t think he’s taking his conditioning seriously.
Definitely, something to monitor.
Flip the page to see more, and Twitter reacts to the commercial that has him looking chunky.