Stephen A. Smith hits out at Zion Williamson with scathing “food addict” revelations.

ESPN analyst Steven A Smith responded to the New Orleans Pelicans after the team laughed at the veteran journalist’s claim that Zion Williamson is addicted to food. The Pelicans told Smith to stick to solitaire on their X, formerly Twitter, after Williamson recently opened up about how Stephen A’s report of a weight problem while Zion was dealing with a foot injury really stung.

Smith doubled down on his reporting, claiming to originate from a source not only close to the Pelicans organization, but from Williamson’s inner circle, he said, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“Nothing was made up. The information that came out about Zion Williamson, yes, it came from within the organization. It came from people even closer to Zion Williamson. I stand by that,” Smith said. “People calling and encouraging us to catch him** because of the things he was doing. You have people who are alcoholics, you have people who are drug addicts and stuff. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!”

Smith adds that Williamson’s weight problem was a running joke among chefs in and around New Orleans.

“Everybody who cooked knew about Sion Williamson, and he knew them. And they were by name because that brother ate a lot,” Smith added. “You even had rumors, and I’m literally here and I think it was a joke, and someone told me to go on the air and point out how he got busted hiding food under the bed. Things like this happened.”

“You have people who are alcoholics, you have people who are drug addicts and things like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!”

Stephen A. Smith to Sion Williamson’s comments about his weight.

(via @FirstTake)
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Not surprisingly, Stephen A. Smith is not backing down from his coverage of Williamson, insisting there was no exaggeration in what people told him about Zion’s eating habits.

Lonca Ball’s recent confession about Pelicans’ Zion Williamson

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson’s former teammate Lonzo Ball recalled fond memories of their time together in a recent interview. Ball considers Williamson the most pleasant teammate he ever had.

The ball he looked back on his time with Williamson, by Fred VanVleet Unfiltered.

“For the hoop? I’d probably say, s**t, low key probably Zion. Just because I could throw him a lob anywhere, and if I just put it in his pocket, just count my assist. He lays that s**t up every time,” Ball said.

“Off the field, it’s tough. (But) I have the most respect for Deeb. If I had to pick a big brother in the league, I’d say him.”

Ball played with Williamson for two seasons from 2019 to 2021.