It is one of the most discussed topics since Zion Williamson landed in the NBA in the summer of 2019. With his athleticism and size that make him a unique player, his physical form (weight) is constantly in question; And not because it affects his performance on the floor, but because of the direct relationship it may have with the injuries he has suffered in his still short career.
In his debut year he missed the beginning of the campaign to play only 24 games, last season he did find some regularity to play 61 of 72 total games, but in the present he has returned to his old ways to have already lost the first 17 games of the course due to an injury that is taking longer than expected; so much so that David Griffin said at the time that he would be ready to start the regular season…
With this panorama, in Louisiana they are worried about their player, not only thinking about the present, but also about the future. Seeing him arrive this summer with 136 kilos to the preseason – information from Jake Fischer from Bleacher Report-, it does not seem the most appropriate on the part of the organization, which understands that regulating the diet of Zion could prevent injuries in the medium / long term.
That’s just what Brian Windhorst and Andrew Lopez explain from ESPN. The franchise has gone to work, investing time and resources, to protect Williamson’s health as much as possible. Changes have been made to the staff who regularly work with him, and his culinary habits have even been evaluated and varied; all after talking to him about how important it is to protect his body.
New Orleans has taken the right path, but it is not easy at all. To begin with, Zion is an adult who can decide what to eat at any time. On the other hand we have that he is the player that he is, just because of his body. Measuring exactly how much weight you should lose to avoid injury without diminishing your control will not be easy. In any case, this debate is likely to accompany you throughout your career unless you link several campaigns without physical problems.
(Photograph by Mark Brown / Getty Images)
