October 5, 2025

The buzz around Zion Williamson is hotter than ever! At the Pelicans Media Day on September 24, 2025, Zion surprised everyone by appearing slim and sharp, a big change from before when his weight and injuries often grabbed the spotlight. The secret? Hours of boxing workouts and football drills have helped him shed pounds from nearly 300, making him move like a new star on the court. Teammate Trey Murphy III couldn’t believe his eyes, saying this is the thinnest Zion has ever looked. And Zion himself celebrated this fresh feeling at training camp on October 1. "It means a lot for my game. I am able to stay on the court longer. All my moves are faster, swifter... It just feels good to feel good. I feel really good," he told Pelicans Film Room on X. When asked about his form, Zion added, "I haven't felt like this since college," taking fans back to his Duke days. Coach Willie Green was full of praise, telling SiriusXM NBA Radio on September 26, "[He] made a choice that he wants to be better," highlighting Zion’s hard work during the offseason. The real fireworks came in the preseason game versus Melbourne United on October 3 at Rod Laver Arena. Zion dazzled in 16 minutes, scoring 15 points with an impressive 5-of-8 shooting. He also added 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals, fueling the Pelicans to a thrilling 107-97 win. His coast-to-coast layup and a slick alley-oop left fans and analysts buzzing, with NBA's official site lauding his explosive moves. Basketball expert Point Made Basketball praised Zion’s lighter frame, saying on X, "Zion is moving so, so well out there... Looks so explosive, doesn’t need a ton of load-up on his jumps now that he’s lighter." The crowd couldn’t get enough either, chanting "We want Zion!" as his dynamic presence lit up the arena. The reaction from the basketball world? Pure excitement! Sports Illustrated noted fans and experts were amazed by Zion’s debut, calling it the best shape he’s been in since college. BettingToolsUS on X declared, "ZION IS BACK... he's looking much slimmer now," predicting a stellar season if he stays healthy. QWIKET NBA highlighted the fresh accountability culture in the Pelicans’ camp, saying the team could "vault into the playoffs" with Joshua improving thanks to help from exec Joe Dumars and teammate Trey Murphy. The big hope? If Zion can stay fit and play over 70 games, many experts believe he’ll shine brightly, sparking the Pelicans to a strong finish in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Coach Green made it clear in a July 2024 interview, "Zion is healthy, he is in the gym... We're gonna need it next season." The message is clear: Zion Williamson is hungry, ready, and looking better than ever. Can he stay on the court and lead the Pelicans to glory? Fans are all eyes now, and the excitement is real!

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Tags: Zion williamson, Pelicans, Nba, Weight loss, Boxing workouts, 2025 season,