Stephen A Smith calls Zion Williamson a 'food addict,' suggests Pelicans 'encouraged' him to rip NBA star

It is nary concealed that Zion Williamson has had his struggles.

Nearly 3 years ago, the NBA prima admitted to dieting struggles, and successful a caller interrogation with ESPN, helium said the lowest constituent of his vocation was missing his 3rd play with a breached ft and being criticized for his "weight" and "care for the game."

ESPN prima Stephen A. Smith has ripped Williamson connected those captious issues successful the past, and helium did truthful again connected Tuesday, going arsenic acold arsenic to suggest that the New Orleans Pelicans really "encouraged" him to onslaught Williamson.

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(Left) Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage astatine time 2 of the 2025 HOPE Global Forum astatine Signia by Hilton Atlanta successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Dec. 2, 2025. (Right) Zion Williamson (1) of the New Orleans Pelicans looks connected against the Philadelphia 76ers astatine Xfinity Mobile Arena successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, connected Jan. 31, 2026. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

"The accusation that emanated astir Zion Williamson, it came from wrong the organization. It came from radical adjacent person than that to Zion Williamson, I’m gonna permission it astatine that," Smith said connected Tuesday's "First Take." "People that called up and encouraged america to get successful his a-- due to the fact that of immoderate of the things that helium was doing. You got radical that are alcoholics, you got radical that are cause addicts and worldly similar that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!

"The gag was everybody successful New Orleans that cooked, it could beryllium everybody from a restaurant, a chef, to your grandmama. Everybody that cooked knew astir Zion Williamson. And helium knew them! They were connected a first-name basis. Cause that member ate a lot! You adjacent person rumors, and literally, I’m present reasoning it was a joke, and idiosyncratic told maine to spell connected the aerial and constituent retired however helium got busted hiding nutrient nether his bed. This is the benignant of worldly that was happening."

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans looks connected during the crippled against the Indiana Pacers connected Nov. 1, 2024 astatine Smoothie King Center successful New Orleans, Louisiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Smith's comments prompted the Pelicans’ societal media squad to troll him and his diversion abilities, which is hardly a caller phenomenon. They did the aforesaid successful 2024.

"Stick to solitaire Stephen," the squad posted with a montage of Smith's embarrassing diversion moments.

Pulling retired worldly from a decade, 2 decades, 3 decades ago, ???? No problem. See y’all time connected First Take. Remember 1 thing: YOU ASKED FOR THiS!!!!" Smith replied.

Host Stephen A. Smith successful speech with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) astatine a SiriusXM Town Hall lawsuit astatine SiriusXM Studio connected Nov. 19, 2025, successful Washington, D.C.  (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

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Williamson transformed his assemblage implicit the offseason, and it has resulted successful him playing 46 games — his second-highest full since the 2020-21 season. His stats person taken a hit, arsenic he’s averaged a career-low 21.5 points.

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