"NBA is definitely in trouble" - NBA fans praise Zion Williamson's offseason transformation

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is one of the NBA's most electrifying athletes, but his career has been hindered by injuries and conditioning issues. However, a recent photo from his basketball camp has fans buzzing about his apparent transformation.

Zion Williamson hosted a free basketball camp for kids in South Carolina, and a photo from the event has fans wondering if he’s in the best shape of his career. The dynamic forward appears slimmer and is now sporting a beard.

One X user, @casualtakeking, added:

“If Zion Williamson can stay at this weight the NBA is definitely in trouble with all due respect.”

Other fans were amazed by his apparent weight loss, with @jrockd4sure noting:

“Kinda unusual seeing him without the weight...but if this increases his speed and footwork as well as give him more energy then I'm all for the weight loss...can't wait to see how high he jumps now.”

Here are more fan reactions to Williamson’s new look:

Fans react to Zion Williamson's body transformation

Zion Williamson needs to be healthy for the sake of the Pelicans' fortunes

As he heads into his sixth season, Zion Williamson needs to stay consistently healthy to prove he can be a key contributor to the New Orleans Pelicans' success.

Williamson had his healthiest season last year, appearing in a career-high 70 games and starting all of them. However, a left hamstring strain kept him out of the Pelicans’ first-round series against the OKC Thunder, leading to their elimination in four games.

Before last season, Williamson had played in just 114 games while missing 203 due to various health issues.

When healthy, Williamson performs at an All-Star level, showing the potential to be an MVP-caliber player. Over his career, he’s averaged 24.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, with an impressive field-goal percentage of 59.2%.

Last season, after facing off-court controversies, particularly with Moriah Mills, Williamson dedicated significant time to his personal training during the offseason.

His efforts paid off, as he enjoyed the healthiest season of his career.

During last season’s exit interviews, Williamson emphasized his desire to build on that progress and contribute to the playoffs next year.

“That was definitely a step in the right direction,” Williamson said (per NBA.com). “(I’m) looking to build on that next season. Hopefully do what I need to do so I can participate in the playoffs next year.”

“I think we made a lot of growth, but we still have a lot of improvements we can make to be a special team. I still think we have a lot of room to grow.”