New Orleans Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley is reportedly extremely excited about Zion Williamson after the star forward arrived at training camp in excellent condition and noticeably slimmer than in previous seasons.
Tim MacMahon shared the update on The Hoop Collective podcast, highlighting Williamson’s work ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and the optimism he has generated for his new coach.
“He’s very excited about Zion, very excited about the way Zion’s been working, the way that he reported to camp, the condition he’s in,” MacMahon said. “It’s like every camp there’s a Zion weight update. He’s slimmed down and looks ready to roll. We’ll see if that stays that way, but he’s given his new coach reason to believe.”
Williamson’s physical condition has remained a major storyline throughout his NBA career, with injuries limiting his availability despite his outstanding production when healthy.
The 26-year-old played 62 games in 2025-26, averaging 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 29.7 minutes per game. He shot 60.0% from the field, continuing to demonstrate his efficiency as one of the league’s most productive interior scorers.
Williamson has now appeared in 276 regular-season games across six NBA seasons. His best scoring campaign came in 2020-21, when he averaged 27.0 points while appearing in 61 games. He also played 70 games in 2023-24, the highest single-season total of his career.
His latest weight update has added to the optimism surrounding his preparation. Williamson’s listed weight was changed from 284 pounds to 271 pounds in training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season. That would represent a significant milestone for a player whose conditioning has frequently drawn attention.
Mosley takes over New Orleans after the Pelicans finished 26-56 in 2025-26 and missed the playoffs. The former Orlando Magic coach signed a five-year deal and faces the task of improving a defense that ranked among the NBA’s bottom 10 in each of the previous two seasons.
The Pelicans made targeted offseason moves, including signing Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year, $15.4 million contract and extending Saddiq Bey for three years and $55.5 million. Williamson remains central to the team’s hopes of improving.
