As NBA star Zion Williamson showed off his slimmed-down physique at New Orleans’ media day, many expressed amazement. However, one former NFL linebacker and sports analyst fired off a serious allegation about how Williamson achieved his new look, creating a stir just as the season gets underway.
How Did One Sports Analyst Question Zion Williamson’s Transformation?
Zion Williamson’s NBA career has been defined by struggle, mainly due to injuries that some have attributed to his weight. The New Orleans Pelicans’ power forward showed up to the team’s media day on Tuesday, September 23, with a slim and toned physique. This change did not go unnoticed by the media, including former NFL linebacker and personality Emmanuel Acho, who made a bold assumption.
What y’all think about Zion’s new build? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MpFXy2qXB6
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) September 24, 2025
On a recent episode of Acho’s podcast with former running back LeSean McCoy, co-host Kieran asked them about Williamson’s new look while displaying side-by-side photographs of him from media day and the previous season. Acho wasted no time and bluntly stated, “I know Ozempic when I see it.”
He continued, “I saw Serena Williams at the Super Bowl earlier this year, and I said she looked different. She came out with one of them GLPs. Shoutout to Serena, shoutout to Alexis (Ohanian), they’re good people. I know Ozempic when I see it. I don’t even need these glasses to spot it.”
The number one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has dealt with the burden of combating his weight issues, which have led to a slew of injuries to his knee, hamstring, and foot. The 6-foot-6, 284-pound Williamson has only been available for 214 out of a potential 472 games in his six-year career, which is a 45.3% availability rate.
When healthy, however, Williamson has proven to be the dynamic force New Orleans desired when drafting him out of Duke University. He shows explosive dunking ability and a strong postgame and averages 24.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
Acho touched on that potential when explaining his assertion. “I hope it materializes, though, more than anything because Zion was supposed to be the next superstar of the NBA,” he said, adding that the 25-year-old has also dealt with a hefty share of personal drama.
For his part, Williamson spoke about how he felt at the Pelicans’ media day and cited a new workout regimen with team trainer Daniel Bove as the impetus. “We came up with a plan from boxing to working out on the football field a lot to just different random workouts,” Williamson said.
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This development comes after the power forward signed a five-year, $197 million extension of his rookie contract, which includes clauses dictating that he maintain a certain weight and body fat percentage.
He added, “And during that timeframe last year, I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at him and go, ‘Dude, it feels good to feel good.’” The new physique will surely please Pelicans General Manager Joe Dumars. Williamson said Dumars is “demanding”, but he has appreciated it.
The Pelicans are hoping Williamson channels that feeling into his play this season. Dumars’ moves to bolster the team with two veterans, center Kevan Looney and guard Jordan Poole, have New Orleans looking to make more noise after the power forward’s injury-plagued 2024-25 season, which saw him miss 52 games.