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It’s no secret that Zion Williamson has struggled.
Nearly three years ago, the NBA star admitted to struggling with his diet and, in a recent interview with ESPN, said the lowest point of his career was missing his third season with a broken foot and being criticized for his “weight” and “care about the game.”
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith has criticized Williamson over such critical issues in the past, and he did so again on Tuesday, going so far as to suggest that the New Orleans Pelicans actually “encouraged” him to attack Williamson.
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(Left) Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage on Day 2 of the HOPE 2025 Global Forum at Signia by Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 2, 2025. (Right) Zion Williamson (1) of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 2026. (For Griffin/Getty Images)
“The information that emanated about Zion Williamson came from within the organization. It came from people even closer to Zion Williamson, I’ll leave it at that,” Smith said on Tuesday’s “First Take.” “People who called us and encouraged us to get up his ass because of some of the things he was doing. There are people who are alcoholics, people who are drug addicts and things like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Addicted to food!
“The joke was that everyone who cooked in New Orleans, it could be everyone from a restaurant, a chef, to your grandmother. Everyone who cooked knew about Zion Williamson. And he knew them! They called each other by name. Because that brother ate a lot! There are even rumors, and I’m literally here thinking it was a joke, and someone told me to go on the air and point out how he got busted hiding food under his bed. This is the kind of thing that was happening.”
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans watches during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 1, 2024 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Smith’s comments led the Pelicans’ social media team to troll him and his athletic abilities, which is not a new phenomenon. They did the same in 2024.
“Stick to lonesome Stephen,” the team posted with a montage of Smith’s embarrassing athletic moments.
Taking things from a decade, two decades, three decades ago, ???? No problem. See you tomorrow at First Take. “Remember one thing: YOU ASKED FOR THIS!!!!” Smith responded.
Host Stephen A. Smith chats with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) at a SiriusXM Town Hall event at SiriusXM Studio on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Williamson transformed his body during the offseason and that led him to play in 46 games, his second-highest total since the 2020-21 season. His stats have taken a hit, as he averaged a career-low 21.5 points.
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