Zion Williamson says maintaining a diet is 'hard,' in 'process of fixing wrongs'
Oft-injured New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson says he knows there is concern about his diet, and that it has been hard to maintain a certain weight allowing him to maximize his ability.
Williamson is entering his fifth season and has played just 114 games in his career, including missing the entire 2021-22 campaign with a foot injury.
The 23-year-old was asked about his fitness on "Gil's Arena" podcast, hosted by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas.
"It's hard, man," Williamson said. "I'm 20, 22, have all the money in the world − well, it feels like all the money in the world. It's hard.
"I'm at that point now because of certain things, I'm putting back the wisdom around me. I don't want to say older because they get defensive, but I'm putting people around me with wisdom. And just go from there."
Williamson missed the final 45 games of the 2022-23 season with a hamstring injury, appearing in just 29 games. When he did play, he averaged 26 points and seven rebounds per game.
"Like [former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] taught me, I have to own up to my responsibilities," Williamson said. "There are a lot of things I could have done better. I didn't. I'm in the process of fixing those wrongs."
Even though he has struggled to stay on the court, the Pelicans signed him to a five-year, $197 million extension that is to start this year. He will make $34 million this upcoming season.
Last summer NOLA.com reported there is language in Williamson's contract related to his weight and body fat percentage. In September 2021 he reported to training camp weighing over 300 pounds. At Duke he was listed on the roster as 6-foot-7, 285 pounds.
"I'm a hooper," Williamson said on the podcast. "When I'm sitting on the sidelines watching my teammates in certain games they're losing, I know if I was out there, I could change the outcome.
"What I want people to know about me is I just want to hoop. I want to be out there. Nobody wants to just sit on the sideline. I think that's what I want people to understand. I don't want to be on the sideline. Y'all think I want to sit over there hurt? I don't."