Zion Williamson

Earlier this month, the Pelicans big man signed a five-year, $193 million rookie max contract — with escalators up to $231 million — but there is a ...

During the 2020-21 season, Williamson averaged 27 points in 61 games. Last July, Williamson underwent surgery for a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot and missed the entire 2021–22 season. If his weight isn’t within the threshold of the deal, he could lose an amount of guaranteed money.

Former Duke basketball superstar Zion Williamson must maintain his weight or it could cost him a lot of money in his new contract.

The organization removed the clause after it was leaked to the public due to the backlash Murray and the Cardinals received. Zion Williamson was listed at 285 pounds during his lone season in Durham and the New Orleans Pelicans have listed him at 284 pounds in each season with the team. The former Blue Devil did not play last season due to a broken foot suffered in the offseason and suffered multiple setbacks as he tried to ramp up his basketball activities throughout the year, but was cleared to return to the court with no restrictions in May.

Answering a couple of important questions we've been hearing since the news about this 'weight clause' emerged.

If everything goes according to plan, the hope is those weigh-ins will only be a formality. Williamson may be annoyed by the chatter about his body, but there’s no doubt he’s heard the whispers. He’s been working with a personal trainer, Jasper Bibbs, to get his body back where it needs to be. He also hired a private chef to make sure he’s eating the right way. People will judge where he’s headed based on what he’s doing right now to put himself in the best position. His weight has fluctuated throughout his career based on how much on-court work he’s allowed to do and how healthy his body has been. Williamson understands how much his weight has been a topic of discussion. And while Williamson’s play on the court that season led to him putting up historical numbers and earning an All-Star bid, there were people around the team who thought the Pels star could’ve done more to make sure he was in peak physical condition. It’s fairly common for younger players to not pay much attention to things like diet, sleep and conditioning early in their careers. The team is hoping these additional clauses connected to health and body weight will give him the appropriate motivation to arrive at training camp in the best shape of his career. He has looked like one of the most dominant offensive players in the league when he’s been healthy enough to suit up. If it does, guaranteed money in Williamson’s extension, which kicks in at the start of the 2023-24 season, can be reduced.

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has plenty of incentives in his new extension deal — but there's also "de-escalators" tied to his conditioning.

I see it. I believe it. I believe it. I see it. It also gives the team leverage if the conditioning concerns that have contributed to Williamson’s several serious injuries are not rectified. “According to league sources, Williamson’s contract stipulates that he will have weigh-ins periodically throughout the entirety of his new deal.