Former NBA player and current analyst JJ Redick didn’t mince words as he criticized his former teammate Zion Williamson for what he perceives as a lack of commitment to maintaining optimal fitness levels.
Redick expressed disappointment in Williamson’s performance, highlighting concerns about his weight and overall conditioning.
Despite being the number one overall pick and entering the league with high expectations, Williamson has struggled to consistently deliver on the court.
Ongoing weight issues and frequent injuries have plagued the young forward, raising questions about his dedication to physical fitness.
While reports suggested that Williamson took a more serious approach to address his fitness during the offseason, recent observations indicate that he is still carrying excess weight.
There are also new reports that he ignores the advice of the Pelicans regarding his weight management.
Redick, speaking on ESPN, emphasized his disappointment with Williamson’s lack of commitment to his own career. He noted that despite numerous conversations with basketball legends and public calls to improve his fitness, Williamson hasn’t fully embraced the necessary changes.
Redick expressed concern that without a sincere commitment to his own career and physical well-being, Williamson may not reach his full potential as a player.
“I’ve been disappointed in Zion this season,” he said. “Look, we can certainly point at counting stats and say he’s having a fine season. But you can be in the building, you can watch on TV, you can be courtside and you can see he’s not in shape. He’s still not in shape despite everything that he’s gone through, despite numerous conversations with legends of the game about being in shape.
“He gets called out on national television once or twice a year for this thing, this very thing. And earlier this season he had a press conference where he was talking about trying to buy in to what the team wanted.
And the reality is Zion Williamson has not bought in to his own career yet. And that is disappointing because as someone who is a fan of his a former teammate, a fellow Duke guy, I know – we all know – how great he can be.
We’ve seen those flashes of greatness but to do that for an extended period of time and to reach his full potential, that’s all we can ask as players, whatever your potential is, to reach that. He’s never going to get there if he doesn’t buy in to his own career.”
In the current NBA season, Williamson is posting respectable statistics, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 30.9 minutes per game.
However, Redick’s critique goes beyond the numbers, focusing on the need for sustained excellence and reaching the full potential that many believe Williamson possesses.
