The New Orleans Pelicans and their fans got a long awaited surprise recently as their star power forward Zion Williamson showed up to media day looking like a new person.
Williamson shed a large percentage of the body fat that many fans, coaches and media members felt has held him back since he entered the NBA as the number one overall pick out of Duke in 2019.
Williamson told Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network recently that he’s feeling really good heading into the 2025-26 season.
On Wednesday, longtime NBA writer Bill Simmons shared his instant thoughts on the Williamson changes, leading to an enthusiastic take that captured his thought process.
Williamson’s Transformation Draws Simmons’ Attention
Williamson recanted the offseason plan that transformed his body heading into Media Day.
Simmons reposted it on his X account as evidence of his full buy-in on the Pelicans forward.
“We came up with a plan and from boxing to working out on the football field a lot to just different, random, workouts,” Williamson started off.
“And then during that timeframe last year I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look and go, ‘Dude, it feels good to feel good,” he added, saying he hasn’t felt that way since college or high school.
“Zion won me back in like 14 seconds,” Simmons wrote along with his re-post.
“I’m back!”
Pelicans Need Williamson at His Best
The Pelicans have not been seen as a realistic title contender or even a budding title contender in quite some time, in large part due to Williamson’s injuries and weight problems.
The Pelicans star is expected to lead an intriguing, revamped roster that includes Jordan Poole, Trey Murphy III and Kevon Looney.
The new-look Pelicans almost certainly won’t threaten for an NBA title anytime soon but Williamson’s transformation gives fans, and Simmons, hope for better days ahead in the NBA’s Western Conference.