Blue Devil Country

Pelicans Publicly Punish Pundit for Criticizing Duke Basketball Pro

Despite Zion Williamson's winning efforts of late, the Duke basketball product remains a target for jokes about his weight.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
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The New Orleans Pelicans have won eight of their past nine outings, largely on the back of 2018-19 Duke basketball star Zion Williamson. On Thursday night, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, averaging 22.5 points this season, tallied 27 points and nine assists to fuel a 127-105 home win over the Houston Rockets.

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Even so, during ESPN's Get Up on Friday morning, Stephen A. Smith ranted about Williamson's past weight issues, doubting the 23-year-old's dedication:

"Zion Williamson, it's not about his game. It's about how many burgers he's eating and whether or not he's going to be in shape or is he going to keep eating McDonald's and having chefs clamoring for him to eat at their restaurant.

"That's what he has to prove: that the chefs don't love him any longer, that he's committed to playing basketball and being in shape."

Smith's excessive criticism went viral, of course. And there's no doubt it found the ears of the Pelicans' social media specialists, who hilariously responded with the following video exposing the pundit's not-so-smooth performances on the basketball court, not to mention from the mound in tossing an honorary first pitch into the dirt:

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Williamson and the Pelicans, whose other Duke basketball talent in their starting lineup, veteran forward Brandon Ingram, sat out Thursday night's contest with an illness, appear at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings. Their next game is against the visiting Miami Heat (30-25) at 8 p.m. ET Friday.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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