Stephen A. Smith Calls Zion Williamson "A Food Addict"

Is it alright to take shots at a star player if the ammunition comes from that player’s own camp?

For years, Stephen A. Smith has joined the chorus of analysts criticizing Zion Williamson for being out of shape. Recently, the New Orleans Pelicans forward shared his feelings on these critical comments, saying it was “frustrating” to hear pundits like Smith question his love for the game as he worked his way towards recovery.

An apology, however, was the furthest thing on SAS’ mind. Appearing on Monday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith went so far as to hint at the sources of his intel on Williamson.

“Nothing was made up,” Smith said. “The information that emanated about Zion Williamson… It came from inside the organization. It came from people even closer than that to Zion Williamson. I’m gonna leave it at that.”

ESPN’s premier analyst went on to claim that people within Williamson’s camp “encouraged” the media to run stories about the two-time All-Star’s habits. “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 exclaimed.

If SAS is to be believed in this situation, no less than people from within the Pelicans organization and Williamson’s personal team fed the media narrative that the former Duke standout had problems with his physical frame and conditioning. It may not be a coincidence that, throughout Williamson’s stint with the Pelicans, he has battled major injuries that have often been attributed to the shape that he’s in (or, perhaps more aptly, the shape that he failed to achieve).

Does Williamson have an “eating problem?” Smith certainly sounds like he believes it. “You even have rumors, and I’m here thinking it was a joke…somebody told me to go on the air and point out how he got busted hiding food under his bed.”

Whatever Williamson is hiding or not hiding, Pelicans fans can’t escape the reality that their team is once again bound for the lottery after another dismal season. The team’s woes over the past years have been caused by multiple factors, but the promising young forward that they drafted first overall in 2019 has unfortunately brought more problems than solutions.