Zion Williamson is taking a leaner approach to his sixth NBA season.
The No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft had lofty expectations — expectations that he has only partially met. The 6-6 forward has been a great scorer, but his health and discipline have been concerns since entering the league.
Williamson is listed at 284 pounds, an extraordinary size for someone of his height and athleticism. It seems he's finally trimmed his weight heading into year six. The latest pictures of the power forward at his basketball camp are eye-opening.
Here's a look at the slimmer Williamson as he heads into his sixth NBA season.
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Zion Williamson weight loss pictures
Williamson posed for a photo with two kids at his basketball camp in Spartanburg, SC. The Pelicans star went to high school in the town, but he told reporters he hadn't been there in two years.
People are speculating how many pounds Williamson lost, with some saying 25-30, but there isn't a confirmed number.
The forward looks closer to how he was when he enrolled at Duke. The university listed him at 285, but he looked noticeably slimmer than some of his more recent NBA seasons.
Williamson has received a lot of flak for his overweight appearance, which has been a major factor in his health and availability. He played a career-high 70 games this past year, but he hurt his hamstring in the play-in tournament and missed New Orleans' first-round playoff series vs. Oklahoma City.
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The two-time All-Star missed his entire third NBA season and played fewer than 30 games in two of his four other seasons. A slimmer look not only gives him a better shot at staying on the floor, but it could improve his play, as well.
Both will be essential if the Pelicans expect to make a run in the Western Conference playoffs.
Zion Williamson stats
Williamson has played four of the five seasons he's been in the NBA. He missed his entire third season due to a foot injury.
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3-PT% | FT% |
| 2019-20 | Pelicans | 24 | 27.8 | 22.5 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 58.3% | 42.9% | 64.0% |
| 2020-21 | Pelicans | 61 | 33.2 | 27.0 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 61.1% | 29.4% | 69.8% |
| 2021-22* | Pelicans | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-23 | Pelicans | 29 | 33.0 | 26.0 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 60.8% | 36.8% | 71.4% |
| 2023-24 | Pelicans | 70 | 31.5 | 22.9 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 57.0% | 33.3% | 70.2% |
*Did not play due to foot injury