Is Zion Williamson Finally in Shape? He Certainly Thinks So

Ah, it’s that magical time of year again. No, not Christmas, but the annual tradition where we all gather ’round the metaphorical campfire to hear about Zion Williamson’s latest fitness journey. Every offseason, it’s the same old song and dance: reports surface that he’s in the “best shape of his life,” only for us to watch him miss a significant chunk of the season. It’s a cycle more predictable than a superhero movie plot. So, when Williamson took the stage at Pelicans Media Day, you can imagine the collective eye-roll from fans who have heard this all before.

But this time, something felt… different. Maybe it was the tone, maybe it was the specific details, but Williamson spoke with a confidence that seemed less like wishful thinking and more like a genuine belief in his physical state. “It feels good to feel good,” he declared, a simple phrase that, for a player plagued by injuries, carries a lot of weight. He claims he hasn’t felt this good since his high-flying, rim-shattering days at Duke. You know, back when he was a human highlight reel and not just a fixture on the injury report.

So, should we buy into the hype this time? Is this the season Williamson finally puts it all together? Let’s not get our hopes up just yet, but the details he provided are, dare I say, intriguing.

What’s So Different This Time?

According to Williamson, this offseason wasn’t just about hitting the weight room and hoping for the best. He and his trainer, Daniel Bove, developed a new, diversified regimen that sounds more like a Rocky training montage than a typical NBA workout plan. We’re talking boxing sessions, workouts on a football field, and a bunch of other “random workouts” designed to build a more resilient physical foundation. The goal wasn’t just to get strong; it was to get athletically strong.

Boxing for quickness and stamina. Football drills for explosive power. It’s a cross-training approach that makes a ton of sense for a player with his unique combination of size, speed, and force. Williamson mentioned feeling a “shift” in his body during this process, a moment of realization that he was finally getting back to the explosive athlete he was in college. For a guy who has played in just over 45% of possible regular-season games since being drafted first overall in 2019, this is the kind of news that offers a glimmer of hope. A very, very cautious glimmer.

The Financial Motivation for Williamson

Let’s not forget the elephant in the room: money. Williamson is playing on a five-year, $197 million contract extension that isn’t just a blank check. It famously includes clauses tied to his playing weight and body fat percentage. If he doesn’t meet certain physical benchmarks, some of that guaranteed money becomes… well, not so guaranteed. Nothing motivates a person to put down the extra slice of pizza like a seven-figure financial penalty.

This contract structure was a clear message from the Pelicans‘ front office. They believe in his talent—his career averages of 24.7 points on nearly 59% shooting are monstrous when he’s on the court—but they needed a commitment. Williamson even spoke about his promise to executives Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver not to let them down. It seems the financial incentives, combined with the personal frustration of being sidelined, might finally be the one-two punch needed to keep Williamson dedicated.