New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson entered the NBA to much fanfare in 2019, but hasn’t lived up to his potential. Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas feels Williamson went down the rabbit hole of many athletes, who allowed fame, partying and “late-night activities” to affect their off-court training and regimen.
“H*es, partying, fame, money — you know what I mean? It happens. When you indulge in late-night activities, you get exactly what comes with it, right?” Arenas said of Zion Williamson on “The Gilbert Arenas Show” podcast.
“You get kids, STDs, but not saying he got those. You get drama, get tired, your body fatigues, man.
“You’re out there [expletive] all night, man,” Arenas continued. “You’re out there doing God’s work during the Devil’s time. It catches up with you, and it caught up with him. And I’m glad that he took his time this summer. Really focused on his weight.”
Arenas made the comments while reacting to Williamson’s offseason body transformation and his high expectations for the 2025-26 season.
Will Zion Get it Together?
The Duke alum may have no option but to steer his career back on track. The final three years of his contract, starting in 2025-26, are non-guaranteed and contingent upon his ability to stay healthy and maintain optimal body fat.
Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague criticized Williamson for finally focusing on his body after spending six years in the NBA, but not developing the proper habits.
“You choose to eat, be out of shape, all that,” Teague said of Williamson. “Now, all of a sudden, it’s a contract year or looking for an extension. All of a sudden, he’s in shape, and he said they believe in me. Fool, they gave you a max deal. They’ve been believing in you. They had to put options in his contract because you didn’t believe in you.”
Pelicans Still Have Hope
Joe Dumars, the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Pelicans, spoke glowingly about Williamson on Media Day, claiming that his franchise star has finally developed the proper habits to live up to his potential.
Williamson spoke about his dynamic with Dumars, and why the tough love he’s received from the NBA legend has helped whip him into shape.
“I like Joe; what you see is what you get,” Williamson said of Dumars, via NBA.com.
“He’s going to hold me accountable, and as he holds me accountable, he’s going to give me a lot of responsibility as well, which I’m excited for. I know he’s going to hold me to a really high standard, and if I slip up or anything, I know he’s going to be right there to make sure I get right back on the path.”
Williamson spoke further about “man-to-man conversations” with Dumar that reshaped his thinking.
“They embraced me and I just told them, ‘I’m not going to let y’all down,’” he said. “It helped a lot that they really believed in me.”
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