Zion Williamson, the 23-year-old forward is the cornerstone of his team, the New Orleans Pelicans. He was the first pick in the 2019 draft for the Cresent City and has been a dominating force for them since then. However, after their loss in the semi-finals of the In-Season Tournament against the Los Angeles Lakers, Zion has been a victim of criticism. Not only because he did not perform up to the mark but also because of his fitness. Fans and analysts are questioning his health conditioning which is adding extra pressure on the young athlete.

Looking at all this drama, a former basketball player Carmelo Anthony gave him some constructive criticism and advice. He highlighted the challenges faced by Zion and stressed the importance of discipline.

Words of advice by Carmelo Anthony for Zion Williamson

From the second Zion Williamson entered the league in 2019, everybody had a lot of expectations from him. Due to his illustrious college basketball career, he had shown signs of a star in the making early on in his career. He was being compared to basketball greats and was the centerpiece of his franchise which added a lot of pressure on the shoulders of a young rookie. Carmelo Anthony spoke about this and pointed out the fact that so many expectations for a young newcomer are very overwhelming.

On the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast, he even said “I think, from the beginning, there was so much put on Zion, like thrown at him. Like this kid still wants to eat McDonald’s, this kid still wants to eat Chick-fil-A, this kid still wants to drink iced tea, man he’s from South Carolina. This is what they do, they eat.”

Read More: 284lbs Zion Williamson Is Unserious About His Health Despite Concerns

He further said that due to the fans expecting him to be the next big thing since Wilt Chamberlain, he has too much pressure to deal with. And while battling this added pressure, injuries come, so the fans and spectators start criticizing him. They say “He’s too heavy, he’s this, he’s that.”

Anthony even gave some advice for Willamson “I do agree that he needs to be disciplined. You are not going to have that longevity if you are not disciplined. So, instead of eating 3 burgers eat 2 today you know you slowly start breaking your s**t down. Like instead of having 4 orange crushers have 2.”

How did Zion Williamson answer his critics?

Zion Williamson showed tenacity despite the recent criticism through a great performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite concerns expressed by NBA veterans Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as body-shaming statements from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Williamson set a season-best with 36 points. The triumph of the New Orleans Pelicans, highlighted by Williamson’s assertive performance, served as a powerful answer to all the critics of the young star.

Even one of his teammates, Brandon Ingram, praised Zion and described his performance as “self-explanatory.” Recognizing the standards that come with being a former No. 1 overall draft selection, Williamson is committed to improving and attaining greatness. Only time will tell if he pays heed to Melo’s word’s of advice.

Watch this Story: Lebron James Set to Lose $269K Alongside Other NBA Cup Champs Upon Return From Vegas