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Shannon Sharpe blasts DeMarcus Cousins for defending Zion’s weight

Originally posted on Basketball Network | By Adel Ahmad | Last updated Dec 3, 2024 9:00 AM ET

Few names have carried as much promise as Zion Williamson's in recent years. The top pick of the 2019 NBA Draft was celebrated as a generational talent, a player whose explosive college performances hinted at a superstar future. Yet, his journey has been clouded by criticism over his weight and its impact on his game. It hasn't been the start of the promising career everyone hoped for for Zion, and it seems it's tied to his primary problem.

Struggles with weight

Williamson's college days at Duke University were nothing short of electrifying. Fans still talk about some of his unforgettable college blocks with his astonishing athleticism. The Duke product was dubbed the biggest college star in years, with his 6-foot-6, 284-pound frame blending strength, speed, and vertical explosiveness.

However, that same frame, once an asset, has become a liability. Williamson's weight became increasingly problematic, and critics argue that it has made him more prone to lower-body injuries, forcing him to miss crucial games in his early NBA seasons.

That has frustrated the franchise, and despite flashes of brilliance, such as his 27 points per game average in the 2020-21 season, questions about his durability have overshadowed his talent.

DeMarcus Cousins recently came to the New Orleans Pelicans star's defense, criticizing the organizational culture for failing to support their star player properly. Cousins suggested that the team's management shared responsibility for Williamson's struggles.

"To put that kid in that situation and expect him to thrive in it, that was the first mistake."

Demarcus Cousins believes Zion Williamson was set up for failure from the beginning by being drafted to New Orleans!

: https://t.co/I8QQMPkxfz pic.twitter.com/HguHKKzx7f
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 27, 2024

That took a heated turn recently when analyst Shannon Sharpe voiced strong opinions against the former NBA star.

"Everybody wants Zion to have discipline except Zion," says Sharpe. "So how can I want something, how can the team want something more for him than he wants it for himself? That's why they put it in his contract; look how they got it in his contract that he has to weigh clauses because they know him. That's not the team's fault; that's got nothing to do with New Orleans; that's Zion and his no-discipline [expletive]. That's all that comes down to."

He needs to change

Last season marked a turning point for Zion, as he played 70 games—the most in his career. Yet, his notorious eating habits remained a focal point of criticism. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith joked that the forward's appetite extended to eating the table at restaurants, a lighthearted jab that showed serious concerns about his diet.

"I'm not exaggerating, I'm quoting people. You got chefs in New Orleans who love him. They're looking for him. Every chef there wants to meet him... The word out on Zion Williamson is that he'll eat the table."

- Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/V17iDI3Ge4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 11, 2023

Sharpe didn't hold back in addressing the issue, offering practical advice if pointed out.

"What I need to do is hire me a personal chef and eat fish and eat chicken and eat turkey and eat lean cuts of meat and eat veggies, but that's not what he needs, but that's what he wants to do, so he eats that [junk], and everybody talks about making excuses for him," Sharpe said.

Reports ahead of the current season have noted that the power forward has shed around 25 pounds, signaling a potential shift in his approach. Fans and analysts alike are hopeful this marks the beginning of a healthier, more consistent chapter in his career.

This article first appeared on Basketball Network and was syndicated with permission.

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