Zion Williamson's Weight Loss: Transformation secrets & impact on his athletic performance

Zion Williamson's weight loss has been a critical topic of discussion since he entered the league in 2019. Many agreed he had the potential to be a generational talent, but only if he could remain on the floor.

Very rarely has a player come along with Zion's mix of size and athleticism. Despite being one of the heavier players in the league, he can explode to the rim and rise up over anyone. With this style of play, losing weight was essential for him to have a long career in the NBA.

We have already seen the effects of what can happen if Zion doesn't take care of his body. The All-Star forward missed all of last season because of a foot injury.

Zion Williamson's weight loss is so significant that the New Orleans Pelicans worked it into his contract. There is a stipulation that if he gets too out of shape, it will impact his yearly earnings.

Zion Williamson's weight loss has had minimal impact this season

After missing all of last year, Zion Williamson looked to be in the best shape of his young NBA career. He was a dominant force to open the season, and the New Orleans Pelicans were one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

As we approach the All-Star break, it doesn't appear that Williamson's weight loss has had much impact. While he lost 7-9 pounds weekly in the offseason, the results haven't changed much.

Williamson, named an All-Star Game starter for the first time in his career on Thurdsay, is posting incredible numbers this year, but the problem is his availability. We are just over the halfway point of the year, and he has already missed 20 games. This constant in and out of the lineup is fatal to the Pelicans as they look to be a threat in the Western Conference.

Williamson has missed the past 12 games, with the Pels (26-23) subsequently going on a six-game losing skid amid a 3-9 run, with a hamstring injury. Previously, he had missed two games with a concussion, three with a foot contusion and three while in health and safety protocols. New Orleans went 6-2 in those eight games.

When on the court, Williamson's weight loss can be noticed. He is as athletic as ever, leading to some dominant performances. In the 29 games he has played, Zion averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. What is most impressive is that he is shooting 60.8%.

Zion has lived up to the hype, but only in short stretches. To be an NBA great, he will need to be a common fixture in the lineup. The first step is getting to a healthy weight where he isn't damaging his body constantly.