Since 2019, the majority of NBA fans have been anticipating a certain Zion Williamson. After seven years, with a team that has gone 26-56, missed games, and mysterious injury updates, something seems to have changed. He weighed 271 pounds when he arrived at Pelicans training camp this autumn. Compared to the 284 pounds he has carried for the majority of his career, that is thirteen pounds lighter. On paper, it doesn’t sound dramatic. However, it felt like a statement in the context of his career.
Williamson spent the entire offseason with fitness coach Kris Chrisp, and according to The Athletic, the two were inseparable. Chrisp began sharing videos of Williamson grinding through drills on X and Instagram, appearing lighter and sharper than he had in years, because the workouts were so regular. That level of visibility felt deliberate for a player who has traditionally been private about his work. As if he wanted it to be seen this time.
The weight loss revelation wasn’t what made Media Day truly memorable. Williamson made that statement in front of the cameras. “I’m not where I want to be. Simply put, I’m not where I should be or where I want to be.” At the beginning of a new season, a max-contract player’s candor strikes a different chord. It’s either the start of something genuine or what athletes say before things take a turn for the worse once more. As of yet, there is no reliable method.
Joe Dumars, the head of basketball operations for the Pelicans, provided some context that didn’t seem PR-polished but rather genuine. He discussed the distinction between a player who is forced to get out of bed to work and one who takes the initiative. “That’s what I saw from him this year,” Dumars remarked. “You can’t play 82 games and not be in great shape.” It’s the kind of quiet observation made by someone who has witnessed enough careers to understand the distinction between pattern and performance.
A year ago, Williamson’s shooting efforts on the practice court would have seemed nearly ridiculous. Before heading out for the day, he has made it his personal goal to make fifty three-pointers—not attempts, but makes. He has only made 33 shots from beyond the arc in his NBA career. It’s difficult to ignore the dedication behind that, even though the math is almost darkly humorous. In one particular drill on Thursday, he outshot Trey Murphy, the Pelicans’ top three-point shooter. It appears that Murphy has been teaching him how to position his chest through repetitions. At least in practice, it appears to be effective.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Zion-is-focused narrative has appeared before. In 2022, he also arrived lighter following a period of conditioning, and there was a similar sense of hope. The injury issues persisted. Even so, the Pelicans were eliminated from the playoffs. Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and a youthful core consisting of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are key components of this roster. However, the team hasn’t won a postseason series since 2018, and it’s really hard to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.
However, there’s a sense that this could be different in at least one significant way as you watch this happen: the intentional weight loss, the public accountability at Media Day, the shooting practice that continues after everyone else has left. He appears to understand that ambiguity is not appropriate in year seven. By his own admission, he is not where he should be at the age of 26. That could be a warning sign disguised as self-awareness, or it could be the most honest thing a player at his level can say. The former is what the Pelicans are wagering on. The NBA as a whole is keeping a close eye on this.
FAQs
Q1: How much weight did Zion Williamson lose before the 2026-27 season?
A: He dropped 13 pounds, going from 284 to 271 pounds.
Q2: Who helped Zion Williamson with his weight loss and fitness training?
A: Fitness coach Kris Chrisp worked with him throughout the entire offseason.
Q3: What did Zion Williamson say about his NBA career at Media Day?
A: He admitted he is not where he wants or needs to be.
Q4: What shooting goal has Zion set for himself during training camp?
A: He must make 50 three-pointers before leaving practice each day.
Q5: What did Pelicans executive Joe Dumars say about Williamson’s condition?
A: Dumars described Williamson as being in impeccable condition heading into the season.
