What do you get the man who has everything, be it freakish athleticism, a $197 million contract, and the weight of a franchise on his surgically repaired knees? Turns out, a tattoo, some IG story love, and a social media firestorm. Zion Williamson just turned 25, but the internet didn’t exactly sing him “Happy Birthday.” Instead, they lit a match.

It started off simple, really. Rose, Zion’s girlfriend, shared a ton of lovey-dovey Instagram stories. “Happy 25th birthday🎉 my love💜 1 more down forever to go,” read one story. Another added, “Up n downs This shi for life Cnt wait to turn up for ur special day🎊.” Then came the kicker: a selfie with a chest tattoo reading “Zion” paired with a heart emoji. The promise was loud and clear. It’s either ride or die.

But while the couple was celebrating, X users had other plans. Those pics of Zion and his friends? Total online meltdown, and definitely not a party atmosphere. But the tricky part, people, is that Zion has said little. His social media has been quiet. The franchise has doubled down on its support. But after missing large portions of four of his five NBA seasons, public goodwill only stretches so far. On paper, Zion’s production still turns heads.

He averaged 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting over 58.9% from the field in his career. When he plays, he produces… there’s no question. But that’s exactly the catch. He’s appeared in just 214 across five NBA seasons. The flashes are there, but consistency? Still missing. But while love was in the air, the timeline had smoke on its mind.

One user wrote, “This nigga a gangsta now the season already over with.” Another joked, “Zion bought all them n—– the same pants like he Diddy or something. I can’t breathe 😂😂😂😭😭😭.” But to be fair, not everyone was laughing.

A few users pushed back against the dog whistles disguised as jokes. “Y’all see a group of Black people taking a picture and just automatically assume they’re gangstas smh you gotta be white,” one post defended. The conversation quickly shifted from jokes to judgment about optics, professionalism, and Zion’s maturity as the face of the New Orleans Pelicans.

One fan threw out a side-by-side comparison with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “This is why I appreciate a guy like SGA so much. Wasn’t even the first pick and kept getting better every year until he became a world champion. SGA has that same mentality as Jordan and Kobe did. He’s going keep getting better. Zion not so much.” And then, another comment took things further.

“Smh that’s why it should be mandatory to have at least one veteran on each NBA team, it’s could possibly help to keep young talented stars on the right track, but at the end of the day, accountability is what matters, seems like he’s tryna follow Ja Morant’s old path!” So while Zion may have felt the love from home, the court of public opinion handed him a technical. And it wasn’t just about the photos. It was about years of promise, flashes of dominance, and long stretches of injury absences. Fans aren’t mad about birthday outfits. They’re mad about another season where Zion didn’t deliver when it mattered most. Still, this wasn’t all heat.

For many, the sight of Zion celebrating with his loved ones was simply that—a celebration. And his girlfriend’s stories just show that someone is in his corner no matter what the headlines say. At 25, the window is still wide open. Zion’s birthday bash? Unquestioned. His future? Cloudy. His talent, though? Now, a national debate. Happy birthday, Zion! The ball’s in your court now. Literally and metaphorically. And if this is the start of the next chapter, on the court and off, he’ll have to prove that his story is bigger than any X comment section, rightly so.