Inside The Heat

Zion Williamson Should Be Motivated Vs. Heat After Stephen A. Smith Comments

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith once again takes aim at New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson entering tonight's game against Miami Heat

Shandel Richardson

Zion Williamson Should Be Motivated Vs. Heat After Stephen A. Smith Comments
Zion Williamson Should Be Motivated Vs. Heat After Stephen A. Smith Comments /
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It's not like New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson needed any extra motivation. 

He's already one of the NBA's most scrutinized players because of his weight issues. On Friday, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith only added to the narrative with his comments on "Get Up." Smith once again took aim at Williamson, the No. 1 draft pick from 2019 who has battled eating issues since entering the league. 

The latest criticism comes at the worst time for the Miami Heat, who play the Pelicans tonight in New Orleans. It is the Heat's first game after the NBA All-Star break. 

Here's what Smith had to say about Williamson: 

"Zion Williamson, it's not about his game," Smith said. "It's about how many burgers he's eating. Whether or not he is going to be in shape or keep eating McDonald's and have chefs clamoring for him to come to their restaurants ... 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." 

Critics have never questioned Williamson, who entered the league with similar expectations at LeBron James, for his talents. He is averaging 22.5 points this season but weight and conditioning has always been an issue. 

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

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