New Orleans Pelicans made significant changes in the organizations and star Zion Williamson is leading the way. He is trying to be healthier this season and one thing he specifically worked on is his weight.
The team posted a new photo of him during their Media Day on Tuesday and he was obviously leaner compared to the last season.
1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/odk5OHGc8j
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 23, 2025
The two-time All-Star made it a mission over the summer to change his look and become stronger. He said he did it by taking on two different sports.
“We came up with a plan from boxing to working out on the football field a lot to just different random workouts,” Williamson told reporters.
“And during that timeframe last year, I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at him and go, ‘Dude, it feels good to feel good.'”
He then teased that he feels like he is back in college with his conditioning.
“I haven’t felt like this since college, high school, just where I can walk into a gym and I feel good.”
Zion Williamson is buying in on new GM’s challenge
Williamson’s availability has been one of the main issues for Pelicans. Their new GM Joe Dumars is not entirely focusing on that. Instead, he wants Zion to become more of a leader in the team.
“What I’ve said to him is ‘with greatness comes responsibility. You don’t get to be great and not responsible,'” said Dumars who was with the Detroit Pistons last year.
“And so it’s just been a heavy emphasis on that. Just being accountable and responsible for what you do. It’s not enough just to be talented.”
Williamson is not shying away from the challenge. He is also ready to make sacrifices for the welfare of the team.
“Whatever they need it to be. Whatever the team needs it to be. Whatever my team needs, that’s what I’ll do.”
Aside from a new Zion and a new GM, Pelicans will also feature a different look for the new season. They got rid of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum and then signed Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney.
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