“I really felt a shift in my body. I haven’t felt like this since college, high school, just where I can walk into a gym, and I feel good.” Zion Williamson told reporters on the media day after showing off the results of an intense summer conditioning program. The good news is that the slimmer Zion is already producing the results that fans wanted. And the cherry on top was his viral dunk during the preseason game against the Houston Rockets. But for the 25-year-old, there is more to come.

After the game, the overall #1 pick of the 2019 draft downplayed the highlight dunk when asked what goes through his mind when he has that type of fast-break dunk opportunity. “Everything definitely does slow down. I think after I did the dunk, I was like, ‘I could have done something crazier.’ It felt light,” Williamson said. “In that moment, once you realize you’ve got the breakaway, it does feel like time slows down.”

The weight loss has brought added confidence, and if he could stay fit, then obviously Zion Williamson will be a problem for the rest 29 teams. When healthy, the Pelicans forward’s regular-season career averages stand at 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 58.9% shooting. But everyone is yet to see the extended version of a healthy Zion.

It is Year 7 of the 2x All-Star, and there is an alarming stat about his availability. He’s played 214 games versus the 268 he’s missed, which translates to a roughly 45.3% availability rate. Across six seasons, he has managed to play 60+ games just twice. That’s why when the 6-foot-6 forward stated feeling good about his body, the majority of the criticism piled on him for not being in shape before.

“This is probably the dumbest press conference I’ve ever heard in my life. All this stuff is because of you. You choose to eat, be out of shape, all of that. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a contract year, probably, or he’s looking for an extension...” Jeff Teague, on his podcast, questioned the timing of Zion Williamson and his current physical condition. “Fool, they gave you a max deal. They’ve been believed in you…”

Why Zion Williamson needs to be fit from a financial standpoint

On paper, Zion Williamson is currently under contract through the 2027-28 season. But there’s a caveat, as the final three years of his deal (2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28) are non-guaranteed due to his injury history and the contract’s protective clauses. Yes, Zion Williamson is in the third year of a five-year, $197.3 million contract extension with the Pelicans, which includes strict stipulations.

Starting from, he must stay under a 295-pound weight limit and maintain monitored body fat, and must undergo six weigh-ins per season. That’s how closely the Pelicans are monitoring the health of their star forward. Because, as per Marca, during the 2025-2026 campaign, Zion 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.

And the issue is that last season, he appeared in just 30 games. But the 25-year-old wants to be accountable and is ready for the challenge. “We came up with a plan — from boxing to working out on the football field a lot, to just different random workouts.” Plus, he added, “I’m not gonna let y’all down” to Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, which again suggests that this year he is more serious than ever.