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Former All-Star Jeff Teague calls out ‘Fool’ Zion Williamson for ‘Dumbest’ comments he’s ever heard.
Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague pulled no punches while blasting New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson for comments he made on media day ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Williamson claimed he hadn’t felt “this good” about his physique since his college and high school days, while thanking the Pelicans front office for holding him accountable.
In response to the comments, Teague criticized Williamson for taking the NBA life for granted and needing others to remind him to get into shape after six years in the league.
“Man, cut this sh– off,” an annoyed Teague said on his “Club 520” podcast.
“This is probably the dumbest press conference I’ve heard in my life,” he continued. “All of this is because of you. You choose to eat, be out of shape, all that. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a contract year or looking for an extension. All of a sudden, he’s in shape, and he said they believe in me. Fool, they gave you a max deal. They’ve been believing in you. They had to put a lot of options in his contract because you didn’t believe in you.
“That’s dumb as hell, that press conference he’s doing,” Teague added.
Jeff Teague Doesn’t Hold Back
Teague took issue with Williamson’s implication that the Pelicans — who drafted the Duke alum No. 1 overall in 2019 — did not wholeheartedly embrace him when he first arrived on the scene, and only recently supported him on and off the court.
“They embraced you when you first got there,” said the 14-year NBA veteran.
“What are you talking about? You were the one who was out of shape. You finally decided to lock in and do what pro athletes do. Take care of themselves. Hell no, I’m off that, I ain’t a fan no more. You get paid damn near $40 million a year to be in shape. I ain’t trying to sound like an old head. It’s just like you do a press conference and say, I feel the best I ever felt since college. You chose to feel that way. You could have been like this for three years. Cmon, bro, you were the one damn near 300 pounds.”
What Zion Williamson Actually Said
Williamson spoke in detail about conversations he had with Joe Dumars, the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, following which he vowed not to “let them down” after the investment they made in him for six years.
“They’re going to hold me accountable,” Williamson said, via Ballislife.com.
“Accountability and responsibilities. We came up with a plan and from boxing to working out on the football field. To just different random workouts. During that time frame last year, I really felt a shift in my body, to where I would say it feels good to feel good. I haven’t felt like this since college and high school.”
Dumars made it clear that Williamson had not lived up to his talents in the NBA, and needed to demonstrate the work ethic needed to reach the next level.
“You don’t get to be great and not responsible. It’s not enough just to be talented,” he said. “There is a difference between talent and great.. He’s been great.. I have seen him for the last month in and out of the facility, really pushing himself hard”
“You don’t get to be great and not responsible… It’s not enough just to be talented. There is a difference between talent and great.. He’s been great.. I have seen him for the last month in and out of the facility, really pushing himself hard”
— Joe Dumars on Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com/9bUA3d72as
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) September 22, 2025
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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