New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has a big responsibility for the upcoming season, but fortunately, he will begin the campaign looking ready.
Williamson showed up to training camp in very good shape. Pelicans forward Trey Murphy said Williamson is “slimmer” than he has ever seen him in the summer before. According to Williamson, while he was rehabbing his hamstring, Williamson had some difficult conversations with Pelicans trainer Daniel Bove.
“We came up with a plan, from boxing to working out on the football field a lot, to just different random workouts. And during that timeframe, I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at him and go: It feels good to feel good. I haven’t felt like this since college, high school.”
Williamson added that he also spent a lot of time working with Teresa Weatherspoon, a five-time WNBA All-Star who was an assistant coach for the Pelicans from 2020 until 2023 and head coach of the Chicago Sky in 2024.
“I haven’t felt like this since college.”
Zion says he’s back to feeling like Duke Zion after boxing and football workouts this summer 💯🔥
(Via @PelicansNBA) pic.twitter.com/6l1K6s8VFH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 23, 2025
Pelicans head coach Willie Green spoke about what he saw from the New Orleans star:
“I saw his work this summer, his attention to his body, his conditioning. He understands that he wants to be available for his teammates. When he’s available, when he can step on the floor and be accountable to that, he’s one of the best players in the NBA. So that’s something that I saw this summer that he is working towards.”
ESPN’s Marc Spears said when he spoke to Green, the coach also told him Williamson is showing more leadership.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Shams Charania emphasized that Pelicans executive Joe Dumars has taken a strong approach with Williamson as well.
“Joe Dumars has made it clear, publicly and privately, that he is going to be holding Zion Williamson accountable this season. That responsibility comes from leadership, being on time to things. Remember, last season, he was suspended for one game for being late to a team plane. That wasn’t the only time Zion Williamson has ever been late. That has been a reoccurring thing for him at different points.”
As mentioned, Williamson was suspended for one game in January 2025 and publicly took full responsibility for his actions.
Williamson will need to keep his conditioning right to stay healthy, and if he can do that, he is potentially looking to a very strong season.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Zion Williamson reveals reveals weight loss routine this offseason
