New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been the subject of considerable criticism during his NBA career, particularly regarding his weight. ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has suggested that Williamson struggles with food addiction.
One former NBA player, however, has come to Williamson’s defense and called out Smith for his remarks.
3-Time All-Star Gilbert Arenas Defends Zion Williamson Against Stephen A. Smith’s Remarks
Smith made his comments during a segment on ESPN earlier this week. “You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict,” Smith said.
Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas pushed back against Smith’s comments on his show, “Gil’s Arena.”
“Food addict, what is that? Physically, he doesn’t look like it,” Arenas said. “We know what addicts look like. We know what crack heads look like, we know an addict looks like an addict. He does not look like one; we know from his body size what it should be if he is an addict.
“He should be all of 360, 370. So we know that’s not the case. Him hiding food under his bed? Who is he hiding it from? It’s his motherf**king house! It hides in the refrigerator like the rest of the f**king food. He ain’t in prison. He don’t live with his parents. This ain’t ‘My 300-Pound Life’ where the doctor’s outside.”
This is not the first time Smith has made direct comments about Williamson’s weight. In 2024, Smith even remarked on “how many burgers” Williamson was eating at the time. He also said Williamson needed to prove to the Pelicans that he was committed to staying in game shape.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Williamson discussed some of the challenges he has faced with the Pelicans. “There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game,” Williamson told Andrews. “I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”
Ahead of Thursday night’s NBA action, the Pelicans are in 13th place in the Western Conference with a 19-44 record, well outside postseason contention. Williamson has averaged 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in 46 appearances this season.
It remains unclear whether the back-and-forth between Smith and Arenas will continue, but Williamson is contributing as much as he can to the Pelicans on the court this season.
