Stephen A. Smith called Zion Williamson a ‘food addict,’ is now feuding with the Pelicans on social

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On Wednesday’s “First Take,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith spent over nine minutes criticizing the New Orleans Pelicans and highlighting his own career achievements.

This happened one day after Stephen A. Smith publicly called New Orleans Pelicans player Zion Williamson a “food addict.” The team responded by posting a video online with clips of Smith that appeared to be meant to embarrass him, drawing from his long career in broadcasting.

Here’s how we got to this point.

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‘It was nothing but negative criticism’

Zion Williamson has been officially listed at 6-foot-6 and 284 pounds since the New Orleans Saints drafted him first overall in 2019. Throughout his career, he’s faced frequent criticism regarding his weight and conditioning, and numerous injuries – including missing the entire 2021-22 season after foot surgery – haven’t helped those concerns.

After missing much of last season with a hamstring injury and back problems, Zion Williamson arrived for the 2025-26 season looking noticeably fit. He shared with reporters that he and the Pelicans’ trainer, Daniel Bove, developed a plan to improve his conditioning during his recovery, and he followed it closely.

Lakers

LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith continued their public disagreement on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’ James jokingly compared Smith to Taylor Swift, while Smith stated he would have physically reacted if James had gotten physical with him.

Williamson recently said he hadn’t felt this confident and comfortable on the court since his high school or college days, explaining that he now walks into the gym feeling genuinely good.

This season, Zion Williamson has appeared in 46 out of the Pelicans’ 63 games – the third-highest number of games he’s played in his seven years in the NBA. He recently spoke with ESPN’s Malika Andrews about how past criticism impacted his mental health.

Honestly, the toughest time for me was when I broke my foot during my third year. It felt awful because I was getting a lot of heat – people were questioning my weight, my dedication to basketball, everything. It was frustrating because while everyone’s entitled to their opinion, I was stuck in Portland, just trying to get my foot healed, and I didn’t even know if it would. It was a really tough, uncertain time.

As a basketball fan, hearing Zion Williamson talk about his toughest moments really hit home. He shared that the hardest part of his journey was definitely missing his third year due to a broken foot. It wasn’t just the physical setback, though. He also faced a lot of scrutiny – people were critical of his weight and questioned his dedication to the game. He admitted he was deeply upset, because all he wanted was to be out there playing basketball. It’s a raw and honest look at the pressures faced by a young star.

— ESPN (@espn) March 2, 2026

I was feeling really down because all I wanted to do was play basketball – the game I love. But everywhere I looked, on TV or on my phone, all I saw was negative criticism. It was tough at the time, but looking back, it actually helped me learn and grow as a person.

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‘Stick to solitaire’

Smith has previously commented on Williamson’s physical condition, but after seeing a clip from Williamson’s interview with Andrews, he expressed his support. Smith said he was “very happy for” and “incredibly proud of” Williamson for taking responsibility for his career.

However, Smith maintained that his past criticisms of Williamson were entirely valid, and that many people who knew Williamson well actually supported his stance.

According to Smith, all the information released about Zion Williamson originated within the team’s organization. He specified that the sources were very close to Williamson, and that these individuals actively encouraged them to address issues with his behavior.

Television

The ESPN commentator’s recent statements are consistent with his history of sharing strong opinions on political and global issues, even though these topics aren’t related to sports.

Smith said he was once told that Williamson “got busted hiding food under his bed.”

Smith explained that many people struggle with addictions like alcohol or drugs, but he believes Zion Williamson’s issue is different. He claims Williamson is addicted to food.

The Pelicans playfully responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a video poking fun at Ja Morant’s athletic abilities. The video showed clips of Smith failing at jump shots, swinging and missing badly in baseball, looking sluggish during boxing practice, and even stumbling and falling—all set to an old audio clip of Smith criticizing Kwame Brown’s athleticism.

The team jokingly told Stephen to ‘stick to solitaire,’ referencing a viral video that seemed to show him playing the card game on his phone during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

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‘I am the American dream’

The following day, Smith discussed the situation at length. He emphasized that he wasn’t faulting Williamson or any of the players, and expressed confidence in the Pelicans’ potential for improvement now that Joe Dummars, hired last April as executive vice president of basketball operations, is in charge.

Smith explained that his criticism was aimed at the New Orleans Pelicans’ social media staff, but he also didn’t hold back when discussing the team’s broader issues.

I came from very humble beginnings – I grew up poor and faced a lot of hardship. With luck, my mother’s support, and a lot of hard work, I’ve become one of the most successful people in my field, and I’m fortunate enough to be paid well for it. Honestly, my popularity right now is higher than anyone on most teams except for Zion Williamson – I’m just stating a fact, not criticizing anyone.

Sports

Stephen A. Smith explained that he decided to leave his regular spot on ‘NBA Countdown’ while negotiating his contract with ESPN. He said his schedule had become too full, especially with his continued work on ‘First Take.’

Let’s be real, New Orleans Pelicans. With the season almost over – we’re in March and you’ve played almost 65 games – you’re still struggling to get your 20th win. Frankly, the team hasn’t been playing well, and that’s just the truth.

He continued, challenging his opponent’s audacity: “You’ve never even reached a conference final, yet you have time to respond to me? If you’re going to do that, at least explain to the country why – it’s the only way you’ll get any attention. You and your social media team felt the need to publicly criticize me because you’re seeking recognition, publicity, and to be noticed. Honestly, many people forget you even have a basketball team – that’s how poorly your team has been performing.”

Growing up poor and overlooked in Hollis, Queens, New York City, I defied the odds to reach this point – I embody the American dream. I’m one of the many who have done so, but my story is part of that larger success. And for basketball fans everywhere, we’ve been a force to be reckoned with – a team that has consistently challenged expectations.

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2026-03-05 03:01