Former teammate says Zion Williamson needs to get in better shape amid rumors he weighs over 300 pounds
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- Former NBA participant JJ Redick stated Zion Williamson has to get in higher form.
- Williamson is out whereas recovering from a foot surgical procedure amid rumors that he weighs over 300 lb.
- There have been studies of rigidity between the Pelicans and Williamson and his household.
Zion Williamson has been a dynamic pressure when he's on the courtroom, however sadly, he has not been on the courtroom all that always.
Williamson has not performed this season whereas he recovers from offseason foot surgical procedure.
Within the meantime, Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported that members of the Pelicans had grown involved with Williamson's weight, with one supply telling Fischer he believed the 6-foot-6 Williamson weighed over 300 lb.
Williamson is listed at 284 lb.
Talking on an ESPN media name on Monday, lately retired NBA participant JJ Redick, who performed 1.5 seasons with the Pelicans, stated Williamson must get in higher form.
"Zion needs to be in higher form," Redick stated. "That's not a secret. And he's gotta get wholesome."
Williamson joined Redick's podcast in March and stated he felt he might enhance his conditioning however frightened about getting too mild.
"I do assume there's one other gear that I can attain relating to my weight and conditioning," Williamson stated. "However I feel it's such as you stated, it's discovering it. As a result of I don't need to get to a spot the place I'm like, 'Yeah, I misplaced loads of weight, however I don't really feel robust. I can't do sure issues that I might do earlier than.' I feel it's simply discovering it. I do assume there's one other gear I can attain relating to each weight and conditioning."
Matthew Hinton/AP Photographs
On Monday, Redick stated Pelicans followers have trigger to be involved concerning the potential course Williamson and the Pelicans are heading.
The Athletic reported in June that Williamson's household has been sad in New Orleans and was typically upset concerning the teaching fashion of Stan Van Gundy (who the Pelicans fired after the 2019-20 season).
Each Williamson and his household have reportedly been upset with how the group has dealt with his accidents. Williamson confronted a sluggish ramp-up whereas coming back from a knee damage his rookie yr, throughout which he solely performed 24 video games. When he returned, he confronted a strict minutes restriction, even sitting out the ultimate minutes of shut video games with playoff implications.
Moreover, in accordance with The Athletic, Williamson was bothered by the Pelicans buying and selling Redick final season. Redick blasted the Pelicans on his podcast final March as a result of he believed he had an understanding that the staff would commerce him to be nearer to his household in New York earlier than buying and selling him to Dallas. Redick stated he didn't assume gamers and brokers might get "honesty" from the entrance workplace.
Pelicans GM David Griffin confronted criticism this October when he stated Williamson wouldn't be prepared for the beginning of the common season after beforehand implying in any other case.
-Justin Verrier (@JustinVerrier) October 14, 2021
Redick on Monday did say he believes the longer term is promising for New Orleans if Williamson can get and keep on the ground. Over two seasons, the Pelicans are 40-45 with Williamson lively. Final yr, they outscored groups by a mean of two factors per 100 possessions with Williamson on the courtroom, an enormous deal for a group with a unfavourable internet score for the season.
Nevertheless, on Monday, Pelicans head coach Willie Inexperienced advised reporters that Williamson continues to be not cleared to play 5-on-5 basketball and shall be re-evaluated in two weeks.
At 1-6, with out their greatest participant, issues in New Orleans may nonetheless get uglier.
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