Zion Williamson walked into the Pelicans’ Media Day on September 23rd looking noticeably slimmer, radiating a confidence I haven’t seen from him in years. “It feels good to feel good,” the hoopster told reporters, the kind of statement that makes you lean in and listen, right? Because, for a player whose career has been as much about flashes of dominance as it has been about managing injuries, this declaration is almost impossible to ignore.

We’ve all watched Zion since his Duke days, and we know the league hasn’t seen the last of what he can do. He followed that up with a line that stuck with me a little bit, as he said, “I haven’t felt like this since college, high school, just where I can walk into a gym and I feel good.”

Zion’s not talking about some blind hype. The Pelicans star couldn’t have—even if he wanted to, given how much he’s been in the spotlight for his physical appearance and the downsides of it. He was referring to a tangible, physical transformation. And the numbers support it.

When healthy, Zion Williamson’s regular-season career averages stand at 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 58.9% shooting. However, the caveat has always been the 214 games he’s played versus the 268 he’s missed, which translates to a roughly 45.3% availability rate that would be a fireable offense in most industries!

Yet here we are, Year 7, and the New Orleans Pelicans are hoping this time feels different… but let’s not pretend we haven’t heard this before.

Zion Williamson’s Fitness Transformation Explained

From the moment Zion Williamson was crowned the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the conversation has revolved around his NBA potential being hindered by conditioning concerns. His Duke days were captivating. 33 games of unmatched explosiveness!

Many deem it the greatest under the ‘one-and-done’ concept.

But durability… durability has always been a cause for concern for Zion.

The infamous moment at Duke when Zion’s Nike shoe literally split mid-jump, causing a knee injury, is often mentioned, but it was just the first in a long string of health setbacks. While the sports apparel giant called it an “isolated occurrence,” in retrospect, I wouldn’t, looking at the player’s injury streak.

Since entering the NBA, he’s missed a significant portion of games each season. The 2021–22 season saw him entirely sidelined. Across six seasons, he has managed to play 60+ games just twice, with 214 games played out of a possible 472, a statistic that highlights the caution Pelicans fans feel each September.

Yet even in those limited appearances, his output is undeniable.

In the 2020-21 season, he averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 61.1% from the field.

In 2023-24, he earned his second All-Star nod, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across 70 games on 57% shooting.

And 2024-25? 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 56.7% shooting. 

However, criticism has been part of the narrative, and rightly so, in my opinion…

Because while the talent is unquestionable, yes, the availability remains a central problem. 

Zion Williamson can drop 30+ points on a night like it’s nothing. But missing nearly half the games in a season keeps the Pelicans and the league wondering if we’ll ever see the “what if” version of him consistently.

Here’s some more perspective.

Did you know: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum have missed less than 11% of games in their first six seasons, which highlights why Zion’s health narrative draws scrutiny.

Charles Barkley pointed out that Zion Williamson is “not close” to being the Pelicans’ best player, Shaquille O’Neal noted he “doesn’t have that look,” and Christian Clark of The Times-Picayune emphasized that the Duke alum “doesn’t listen” when it comes to conditioning.

Fans have taken notice, too. Social media babbled with comparisons to Luka Doncic, noting, “His weight loss might be crazier than Luka’s. Wow, hope he stays healthy.” Others were skeptical, calling him a second-or third-tier star in today’s NBA conversation.

These voices matter because they’ve been echoing the same concerns for years. Yet, the current counterpoints are somewhat convincing.

With trainer Daniel Bove, Zion Williamson has engaged in a multifaceted program. Boxing for agility, football-style workouts for power, and a variety of exercises to strengthen areas prone to injury. He credits this unique regimen because he’s seen a noticeable shift in his body last season, stating he could walk into the gym and simply feel good, which, again, is a rare statement for someone whose career has been defined by stop-start stretches.

But is Zion Williamson really going to be a man of action in the 2025-26 season? Can he finally back up his words with his game? Or is this shaping up to be all hype and no haul… again?

Year 7: Can Zion Williamson Turn Fitness Into Wins in the 2025-26 NBA season?

“We came up with a plan — from boxing to working out on the football field a lot, to just different random workouts,” Zion Williamson said, targeting areas that have historically plagued him, like stamina and stability.

Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver have added another layer of accountability, holding him to higher standards.

“We sat down and we had some man-to-man conversations,” Zion said. “I’m not gonna let y’all down.” And the weight and body-fat clauses in his five-year, $197.2 million extension do make these words more than lip service… how, you wonder? I’m going to tell you exactly how. 

Zion Williamson’s five-year, $197.2 million extension includes performance-based clauses that directly affect his earnings and job security. Specifically, he must undergo six weigh-ins per season, ensuring his combined weight and body fat percentage do not exceed 295 pounds.

Per Marca: During the 2025-2026 campaign, Williamson must pass all six weigh-ins at or below the target weight to secure 20% of his pay. Another 40% is guaranteed if he plays at least 41 games, an additional 20% kicks in at 51 games, and the final 20% requires him to appear in 61 games.

Now, the thing is, Williamson only played 30 games in the 2024-25 season. So, naturally, the roster around him also matters.

Willie Green has praised his “attention to his body, his conditioning,” and Trey Murphy III has said that, “He looks good. Yeah, he looks good right now. He’s slimmer than I’ve ever seen him during the summertime…” Veteran additions Kevin Looney and Jordan Poole do provide championship experience, potentially giving this young Pelicans core the guidance it has lacked. The environment seems conducive for Zion to finally sustain his physical form.

From an analytical perspective, though, there are clear guardrails to watch out for. His minutes need to be consistent without regression in shooting efficiency or rim success, because we’ve seen too many starts-and-stops that mask his true impact. And what about the team’s performance with Zion on the floor full-time?

If he’s finally able to maintain per-minute production over a long stretch, the Pelicans suddenly shift from a fringe playoff team to a serious contender. His career highs in efficiency and usage indicate that he has all the tools, but the pressing question is durability, not talent.

I want to believe that this is the turning point.

But history urges caution.

Pelicans fans have endured false starts before, and I can’t ignore that pattern.

Food for thought: Zion’s transformation is as much about discipline and mindset as it is about weight or strength. If he can internalize that, stay healthy, and maintain focus for 60+ games, we could finally witness the full realization of a talent that’s teased the league since his Duke days.

Otherwise, it risks being another September song we’ve heard too many times before.