Rob Gray-Imagn Images/EPSN
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith did not hold back when he recently discussed New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson’s issues with his weight. On the March 3 episode of First Take, Smith went on a lengthy rant about Zion being a “food addict.”
During a recent sit-down interview with ESPN, Zion Williamson detailed the criticism he’s received for his weight and specifically mentioned when he missed his third season due to a broken foot.
“The most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot,” Williamson said. “There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game…I was low. I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”
SAS has long been a vocal critic of Williamson’s weight, as he has previously called the former #1 overall pick “fat,” while also joking about his belly bouncing on the court and hiding snacks under his bed. In response to Zion’s latest interview, SAS returned to many of those talking points.
Stephen A. Smith went on a length rant about New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson being addicted to food
I haven’t laughed this hard in a while pic.twitter.com/5BjrO01Cyw
— “YEA, I’M LIVE” (@yeaimlive504) March 3, 2026
“You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that,” SAS said during Tuesday’s First Take. “What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!”
“I say this respectfully to Zion Williamson, we’re very happy for you. But…nothing was made up. The information that emanated about Zion Williamson, yeah it came from inside the organization. It came from people even closer than that to Zion Williamson, I’m gonna leave it at that. People that called up and encouraged us to get in his ass because of some of the things that he was doing. 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!”
“I say this respectfully to Zion Williamson, we’re very happy for you. But… nothing was made up. The information that emanated about Zion Williamson, yeah it came from inside the organization. It came from people even closer than that to Zion Williamson, I’m gonna leave it at that. People that called up and encouraged us to get in his ass because of some of the things that he was doing. 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!”
Williamson has been in the NBA since 2019 but is still just 25 years old and has career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Stick to solitaire Stephen pic.twitter.com/1hBtJThJdx
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 3, 2026