Zion Williamson of the Pelicans shoots throughout the NBAxNBL match in between Melbourne United and New Orleans Pelican (Image Source-Getty Images)
Zion Williamson appeared at Pelicans Media Day appearing slimmer than ever, and truthfully, it seems like a significant modification. For a long period of time, his weight and injuries have actually been the focus of attention.
Now, after participating in boxing exercises and football drills, he’s moving in a different way. The genuine concern is, can this variation of Zion Williamson stay on the court enough time to make a distinction for the Pelicans?
Zion Williamson comes to Pelicans Media Day significantly slimmer
Zion Williamson appeared at Pelicans Media Day on September 24, 2025, looking significantly slimmer after a hard offseason exercise. He obviously reduced weight from a peak of nearly 300 pounds, utilizing boxing and football-field drills to get in shape.
Colleague Trey Murphy III pointed out that this is the thinnest he’s ever seen Zion Williamson.At training school on October 1, 2025, Zion Williamson himself stated, “It means a lot for my game. I am able to stay on the court longer. All my moves are faster, swifter… It just feels good to feel good. I feel really good,” in an interview shared by Pelicans Film Room on X.
He included throughout media day, “I haven’t felt like this since college,” describing his Duke days, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Coach Willie Green informed SiriusXM NBA Radio on September 26, 2025, “[He] made a choice that he wants to be better,” applauding Zion Williamson’s offseason effort.
Point Made Basketball applauds Zion Williamson’s lighter frame and enhanced leaps
In the preseason opener for the Pelicans versus Melbourne United on October 3, 2025, held at Rod Laver Arena, Zion Williamson showed his revamped abilities in simply 16 minutes. He scored 15 points with a shooting portion of 5-of-8, plus he had 5 helps, 2 rebounds, and 2 takes, assisting his group win 107-97.
Some highlights were a coast-to-coast layup and an alley-oop, which truly displayed his volatility, according to the NBA’s main website. Expert Point Made Basketball discussed X, “Zion is moving so, so well out there… Looks so explosive, doesn’t need a ton of load-up on his jumps now that he’s lighter.” The crowd shouted “We want Zion,” highlighting his worldwide draw.
Zion Williamson gets appreciation for his finest shape because college
The NBA neighborhood had a fantastic response. Sports Illustrated discussed that fans and experts were astonished by Zion Williamson’s launching, with a single person specifying it’s the very best shape he’s remained in because college.On X, BettingToolsUS shared, “ZION IS BACK… he’s looking much slimmer now,” anticipating his finest season if healthy. QWIKET NBA kept in mind on September 28, 2025, that with responsibility from executive Joe Dumars and assistance from Murphy, the Pelicans might “vault into the playoffs.”Professionals think that if Zion Williamson plays over 70 video games, he may strike excellent averages and trigger a breakout season. The Pelicans are going for a top-8 surface in the hard Western Conference, relying on Zion Williamson’s health and management. As Green pointed out in July 2024 through Pelicans Film Room on X, “Zion is healthy, he is in the gym… We’re gonna need it next season.” Success depends upon toughness, however early indications indicate a starving return.Check Out: Los Angeles Lakers get no simple days as JJ Redick needs running, crashing and pure physical supremacy