Former NBA guard Jeff Teague has delivered a harsh critique of New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson following his comments at Media Day.
Speaking on his podcast, Teague dismissed Williamson’s remarks about finally being in peak condition, calling the press conference “the dumbest” he had ever heard.
“This is probably the dumbest press conference I’ve heard in my life,” Teague said, via Ballislife.com on X. “All of this is because of you. You choose to eat, be out of shape, all that. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a contract year probably or looking for an extension. All of a sudden, he’s in shape.”
Williamson had told reporters that this summer represented a turning point in his preparation, crediting his training staff for helping him reach a level of fitness he had not experienced since his college days at Duke. He added that building trust with Pelicans leadership and maintaining open communication with head coach Willie Green had been vital.
Teague, however, accused the All-Star forward of not taking his professional responsibilities seriously enough in the past. “You get paid damn near $40 million a year to be in shape,” Teague said. “Now you decide to lock in and do what pro athletes do. Take care of themselves. Hell no, I’m off that, I ain’t a fan no more.”
The 25-year-old Williamson has faced criticism throughout his career for injuries and conditioning issues. Despite flashes of dominance, he has yet to play more than 61 games in a season since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2019.
At Media Day, Williamson stressed that his outlook has changed, pointing to the importance of consistency. “Greatness is every day. Even when you don’t want to do it, no matter the adversity, you do it every day,” he said.
He also highlighted the mentorship of Pelicans executive Joe Dumars and praised new teammates Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole for bringing championship experience to the locker room. Williamson added that he feels prepared to embrace a leadership role with a restructured roster.
Teague remained unconvinced, emphasizing that Williamson’s current fitness level was a choice he could have made earlier. “You could have been like this for three years,” he said. “I ain’t hating. Get all the bread you can. C’mon, bro, you were the one damn near 300 pounds.”
As Williamson looks to lead the Pelicans into the 2025–26 season, his renewed focus has been welcomed within the organization. Still, Teague’s criticism reflects the skepticism Williamson will have to overcome as he works to prove he can sustain his fitness and availability over a full season.
