Zion Williamson’s weight clause is smart for both sides

Zion Williamson just signed a massive contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, but to get it all, he has to stay in shape.

There are some unique details built into his new contract, including a clause that says he has to say under a certain weight to receive the entire amount, according to Christian Clark at NOLA.com among others.

Zion’s weight has been a concern after he has suffered myriad lower body injuries at such a young age, especially since he relies on his explosive athleticism so much.

There has been plenty of speculation and talk about Zion Williamson’s weight, some of which was completely unfair, but the truth is that if Zion truly wants to be great and wants to win, he has to put more time and effort into his physical shape.

So far it seems he has been, as he has been working with a personal trainer, as well as with the team and has a personal chef who is handling all of his dietary needs and has him on a strict regime, as we learned in a recent interview.

We expected some type of protection for the Pelicans in this contract extension but this is something that should be beneficial for both the team and Zion Williamson.

Zion Williamson’s weight clause and the New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans were in a tough situation, as Zion has been a generational talent when healthy, but has already missed nearly two full seasons of his early career to injury.

You can’t let a guy like him walk away, but there has to be some amount of protection when you are making him the face of your franchise. The Pelicans wanted to make a commitment to Zion, but there has to be some commitment from him as well and a big part of that is staying healthy and in shape.

Zion is going to walk away from this contract with generational wealth either way, so it’s not like money is going to be a big motivating factor for him. Any player that truly wants to be great shouldn’t need extra motivation anyway, but I do think have regular “weigh ins” will keep him focused on his condition throughout the season.

I don’t think Zion needs that as motivation, but it’s just another tool to help him stay focused for the entire season and a way to force accountability, which young players sometimes need, especially guys like Zion who have been able to get by on sheer natural talent.

Zion has a chance to be a league MVP someday, but he has to stay healthy and fit, and that takes work. This was a smart clause to put in the contract, as it protects the team and puts more focus on the importance of health as one of the necessities for greatness.