Williamson’s Slimmer Camp Reset in New Orleans

Zion Williamson showed up at Pelicans media day looking leaner than he has in years, but he did not try to sell anyone a fairy tale. The message was clear: the body is trending the right way, yet the real standard is still ahead of him.

The New Orleans forward is listed at 277 pounds this season, which is seven pounds lighter than a year ago. That also breaks a long stretch in which he had been listed at 284 pounds every year since entering the league.

A Better Number, But Not the Finish Line

Williamson said he is not where he wants to be, and he was just as direct in adding that he is still not where he needs to be. That kind of candour matters because his career has been shaped as much by missed time as by highlights.

Picked first overall out of Duke in 2019, he has already sat out 278 games, including the entire 2021-22 season. Injuries and conditioning problems have been the main reasons, not a lack of ability.

When he does play, the production is elite. Williamson has averaged nearly 24 points a game for his career, and his blend of force and touch near the rim remains one of the league’s most difficult match-ups.

The Offseason Was About Habits, Not Headlines

The number on the roster matters, but the bigger story is the work behind it. After seven straight seasons at the same listed weight, Williamson finally reports with a change that people around the team say reflects consistent effort rather than a one-time push.

Joe Dumars, now in his second season running basketball operations, praised the forward while still sending a blunt message about what the Pelicans need from him.

“At some point, you just want the player to get it,” Dumars said.

Dumars described Williamson as arriving in “impeccable condition” and tied that directly to availability. His point was simple: surviving an 82-game season requires more than talent if the daily details are not handled properly.

He also drew a line between players who need constant motivation and players who create that drive themselves. This time, Dumars said, Williamson supplied the urgency.

More Confidence, Including From Outside

Williamson said the shift began in his mind before it showed up physically. He kept his base in New Orleans, spent part of the summer in South Carolina, and worked with new voices while studying the game from fresh angles.

That process, he said, helped him trust his preparation more deeply. It also gave him more confidence in a part of his game that opponents have often dared him to use: the jumper.

He did not sound hesitant about that challenge. “If I miss, I miss. The next shot’s going in,” he said.

• He spent part of the offseason working in South Carolina.
• He said new coaching voices helped him see the game differently.
• He now sounds more comfortable taking perimeter shots.

Jamahl Mosley Brings the Fifth Coaching Reset

The new season also brings a new head coach, and therefore another adjustment for Williamson. Jamahl Mosley is now his fifth head coach in the league, after five seasons leading the Orlando Magic.

Mosley’s record in Orlando was 189-221, but the numbers do not tell the whole story. He took over a 21-win team and helped guide the Magic into the playoffs in each of his final three seasons, building a reputation for defence and strong relationships with players.

Williamson said Mosley checks in often and treats players like people first, which matters for someone who has lived through constant turnover. Mosley, meanwhile, wants more than points from his best player and has pushed him to make the team better in broader ways.

“How do you make your teammates better?” Mosley has asked.

Five coaches in eight seasons is hardly a sign of stability, but Williamson said this offseason has felt different because the locker room relationships are stronger.

Where the Pelicans and Their Star Stand Now

Category	Current detail
Listed weight	277 pounds, down from 284
Games missed	278, including all of 2021-22
Career scoring average	Close to 24 points per game
Number of head coaches	5, including Mosley
Contract situation	Two years remain on his max deal
Last season’s record	26-56

Extension Talk Can Wait Until the Wins Arrive

Williamson is eligible for a contract extension this season, but there is no rush on either side. Dumars said the organisation wants to see how the year unfolds before opening serious negotiations, and Williamson agreed that winning has to come first.

That patience may be necessary for a team that finished 26-56 last season, its second straight year under 27 wins. Dumars kept the offseason relatively quiet, holding most of the roster together while adding wing scorer Bennedict Mathurin in free agency.

Just as important, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray are back at full strength after injury issues slowed all three last season. If Williamson stays healthy, the ceiling of the roster changes quickly.

• The Pelicans added Bennedict Mathurin in free agency.
• Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray are all healthy again.
• Camp practice opened Tuesday, with expectations tied closely to Williamson’s availability.

For Williamson, the goal is simple and enormous at the same time: stay in a Pelicans uniform when the playoffs begin in April. That has never happened before in his eight seasons, and this lighter version of him appears determined to make the wait matter.