He's slimmed down! A once-in-a-generation talent as the No.1 pick! The NBA's top scorer in the paint.

He's lost weight, really lost weight, completely lost weight.

U.S. media Courtside Buzz shared a recent photo of Zion, showing his sharp muscle lines and defined contours.

At the very least, it proves that our "Fat Tiger" has been truly disciplined and hardworking this offseason, without letting himself go and overeating.

Actually, as early as last summer, Zion showed signs of slimming down, which led to his attendance rate last season reaching the second highest of his career: 62 games with 55 starts, averaging 29.7 minutes per game, contributing 21 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1 steal, with a shooting percentage as high as 60%.

In short, Zion's weight loss is certainly beneficial for extending his career and reducing injury risk. However, if he is to evolve into a superstar, he still needs to develop more offensive skills, such as increasing his outside shooting threat. So far, relevant stats are as follows:

In the regular season, he averages 0.1 three-pointers made per game at a 32.4% shooting percentage.

In the playoffs: 0, no stats at all, because he has never played in the playoffs.

Notably, former DPOY Draymond Green recently mentioned Zion on his podcast, saying that he is the toughest player he has ever guarded, because he is both strong and explosive.

Yes, this guy has been one of the best interior offensive players since his debut, with exceptionally soft touch around the rim. In the 25-26 season, he averaged 15.4 points in the paint per game, ranking first in the league.

Zion was born on July 6, 2000, and is about to turn 27. He stands 1.98m tall with a 2.09m wingspan. He was the No.1 pick in the 2019 draft. His current contract expires in the summer of 2028, with a total salary of $87.06 million over the next two seasons. However, it is not fully guaranteed; he must meet strict conditions to receive the full amount. The Pelicans are using money to "force" him to work hard to fulfill his potential.

By the way, the Pelicans have already seen Zion's changes, so they have no plans to trade him for now, allowing him to focus on playing for the team without having to worry constantly like his fellow draft class No.2 pick Ja Morant (who was eventually traded by the Grizzlies to the Trail Blazers), which led to a lose-lose situation.