'Significantly overweight': NBA greats express concern over No.1 pick
Zion Williamson has barely played since he was drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in June.
The hulking prospect only played nine minutes in the NBA Summer League before banging knees with an opponent and being ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Fans are now unlikely to see Williamson in action until the slate of NBA pre-season games, with the regular season set to commence in October.
Williamson’s relatively muted NBA debut though, didn’t escape the attention of some former players and NBA greats, who have speculated that the young star is overweight.
His former college coach, the legendary mentor Mike Krzyzewski, as well as NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley questioned his conditioning in the wake of his brief Summer League appearance.
While both said he wasn’t in playing shape, they also insisted Williamson would be a force in the NBA regardless.
“I thought really he never should’ve played just because he’s been on this circuit of awards, the ESPYs, everything,” Krzyzewski said in an interview with Forbes.
“I don’t think he’s in the playing shape or the mental shape to play.”
Barkley went a step further, joking about his own memorable struggles to stay in shape over the course of his career.
The former MVP said it was imperative that Williamson find the right playing weight for himself, lest he put too much strain on his body in the early stages of his career.
“I was fat. They going to have to do some really interesting tests on Zion’s body because he doesn’t look fat at all,” Barkley said on ESPN’s Get Up.
“But I was fat so I needed to lose weight, I don’t know what his perfect planned weight is going to be, I thought 300 pounds (136kg) was my perfect weight in college and it was in college, but I had to lose 50 pounds (22kg) to become a Hall of Famer.
“I think he’s got a great system down there in New Orleans, but they’re going to have to come up with a comprehensive plan to see what the perfect playing weight is.
Pelicans better lock Zion in the House because I can hear those good people in New Orleans saying “Hey Baby you want some Fried Gator Baby” I’m telling y’all I played for the Pelicans and it’s FOOD everywhere!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) July 15, 2019
“I hear he weighs 280 (127kg), you can’t play at that weight in the NBA. You can’t play at that weight, it’s too much stress on his knees.”
Get Up co-host Mike Greenburg was a bit more harsh on the superstar prospect, saying he was “significantly overweight”.
“My concern isn’t about his game, my concern is about his body. I mean, you can’t improve unless you’re in shape, and he is not in shape,” Greenberg said.
“Whatever his weight is, it’s significantly overweight.”