Zion Williamson will reportedly lose 9 pounds ahead of NBA 2024-25 season
The 2024-25 season might belong to Zion Williamson. The New Orleans Pelicans star has put the league on notice while recently updating his weight loss. After his transformation picture taken at a South Carolina basketball camp went viral, Williamson says he's not done losing weight.
According to Yahoo, during the camp, Williamson weighed 281 pounds. However, Zion's stepfather revealed the Pelicans star hopes to lose nine more pounds before the 2024-25 season begins. By the time the next season starts, Williamson might weigh 272 pounds.
Last season, the Pelicans were the 8th seed in the Western Conference. They qualified for the playoffs after defeating the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament.
However, New Orleans lost Williamson to a hamstring injury during their first Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers. The multiple time All Star scored 40 points in 36 minutes against the Lakers before his injury. The Pelicans played their entire first round without Williamson and were swept by the OKC Thunder.
Zion Williamson says injury against the Lakers was a turning point for him
Just when the tide seemed to be turning for the Pelicans, they were hit by a tsunami that wrapped up their playoff story.
When the Pelicans faced the Lakers in the Play-In Tournament in April, Williamson finally looked like his prime self. Although the Lakers took an 18-point lead in that contest, Williamson eventually found his groove. He played a major role in erasing the deficit and helped New Orleans tie the game at 95 in the fourth quarter.
However, as fate would have it, Zion suffered a hamstring injury that also sidelined him for the playoffs.
When asked about his injury against the Lakers, Williamson said he took the blame and has a completely renewed perspective on his fitness.
“That was definitely a big moment for me,” Williamson said. “I didn’t look at anybody else. I looked at myself. I’ll take full blame for that. I wasn’t where I needed to be."
"I didn’t perform the way I needed to perform. I think it was one of those things I needed to experience because it definitely changed a lot for me during the season.”
With Zion Williamson getting leaner, the Pelicans’ hopes are growing. The weight loss might diminish his muscle strength, but he will retain enough power to bully his opponents in the paint even with a slimmer physique.