Pelicans' slimmed-down Zion Williamson shows off his new athleticism on crazy dunk

Billy Heyen

Pelicans' slimmed-down Zion Williamson shows off his new athleticism on crazy dunk image

Zion Williamson looks different.

Well, in some ways. But the New Orleans Pelicans' star still knows how to throw down a big dunk.

Have a watch of this clip, and then come back here for some more thoughts:

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Man, what word would work to describe this version of Williamson? He has certainly slimmed down, but we can do better.

Sleek? Lithe? Fit?

Take your pick, it doesn't matter.

It's exciting to see that Williamson has apparently done something about his fitness.

Williamson, even at a much larger weight, has been an effective NBA player whenever he's been on the floor.

But whether because of the heavier weight or not, Williamson has rarely been able to stay healthy.

This is a potentially big career shift. Williamson looks like he's embracing a new beginning.

The Pelicans actually have a lot of talent, although the Western Conference remains loaded. But if there's another level for Williamson to reach, that could make a huge difference.

New Orleans will still go far as Zion takes them. Now, he looks prepared to go further.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle