Zion's dramatic weight loss at 25 sparks widespread discussion! He claims this is his best physical condition in his NBA career, receiving praise from teammates but skepticism from fans.

On September 24th Beijing time, the New Orleans Pelicans hosted media day, and the 25-year-old Zion’s noticeably thinner look compared to last season caused a stir, with some fans saying they almost didn’t recognize him.

When asked about his thoughts on starting his seventh season, Zion responded that he hasn’t been in such great shape for a long time. "It feels great to be like this," Zion said, "I haven’t felt this way since college."

When questioned about how he deals with criticism and doubts directed at him and the team, the two-time All-Star responded calmly despite the slightly awkward atmosphere.

“No matter what you said at some point, when we finally reach a (successful) place, you just stay on your side,” Zion said. “Don’t try to come over; we don’t need your approval. You don’t even have to waste time saying ‘Those guys actually did it’ — I don’t care. Just stay where you are.”

Zion’s stance is clear: even if the team succeeds in the future, it won’t involve those who doubted them before. However, whether that success will come remains to be seen over time.

The Pelicans had a disappointing season last year, finishing with a 21-61 record — a sharp decline from their strong 49-win performance in the 2023-24 season (the second-best in franchise history). Last season’s collapse was heavily affected by injuries. Zion appeared in only 30 games due to hamstring strains and bone bruises but remained dominant on the court, averaging 24.7 points per game.

Now, Zion’s physical condition is arguably the best of his NBA career, which undoubtedly brings a positive outlook for the Pelicans this season. Teammate Trey Murphy, when asked about Zion’s summer training, said he’s never seen him in better shape.

“He looks great now, really great,” Murphy said. “This summer, he’s leaner than I’ve ever seen him, which is definitely a very good sign. And I can feel his mindset is really solid now, too.”

Zion’s latest videos and photos quickly went viral online, also sparking considerable skepticism among fans.

“Let’s see if you can stay healthy and play more than three games in a row now,” one fan commented.

Another fan expressed concern: “As a 1.96-meter power forward, will losing so much weight affect his explosiveness? I admit this is a step in the right direction, but I hope he maintains his athleticism and doesn’t lose strength.” Another fan added, “He says this every year.”

Weight and other physical issues have limited Zion to just 214 regular-season games over his first six seasons — including missing the entire 2021-22 season due to injury. Will this year finally be the one where Zion and the Pelicans break through? He has already proven that when healthy, he is fully All-Star caliber; if he truly maintains his best career form now, every team in the league should be wary. For this 25-year-old, his future potential remains limitless.