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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Jan 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Before playing the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson opened up about the toughest point in his career in an exclusive interview with ESPN\u2019s Malika Andrews.<\/p>\n
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Williamson, who missed two games with an ankle injury before returning Tuesday to play against the Lakers<\/a>, said navigating his broken foot in his third NBA season was the toughest point in his career. He said it was difficult for him to receive criticism about his weight.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. \u2026 There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game. \u2026 I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n “The most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. \u2026 There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game. \u2026 I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”<\/p>\n Pelicans forward Zion Williamson on the most difficult point during\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/tf9CnsZ3VX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ESPN (@espn) March 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Shortly after Williamson\u2019s interview, ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith called Williamson a \u201cfood addict\u201d during Tuesday\u2019s episode of First Take. Smith was one of Williamson\u2019s biggest critics when he was recovering from his broken foot in the 2022-23 season.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion\u2019s problem? Food! Food addict!\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n “You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion\u2019s problem? Food! Food addict!” \u2013 Stephen A. Smith responds to Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com\/5TdvA4FZPR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n LeBron James Showed His Support For Williamson After Tuesday\u2019s Game<\/p>\n Lakers superstar LeBron James has also been a target of Smith\u2019s harsh criticisms throughout his career. Smith has been open about his strong dislike for the four-time NBA champion.<\/p>\n After the Lakers\u2019 110-101 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday, James hugged Williamson and told him to ignore Smith\u2019s comments about his eating habits.<\/p>\n \u201cF\u2014 all that bulls\u2014 about Stephen A.,\u201d James seemingly told Williamson after the game.<\/p>\n LeBron James to Zion Williamson about Stephen A. Smith\u2019s comments about Zion\u2019s eating habits: <\/p>\n \u201cFu*k all that B.S. about Stephen A.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/YgS0IgV3Ah<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Pelicans Trolled Smith With Social Media Video, Smith Responded With 10-Minute Rant<\/p>\n The Pelicans posted a video compilation highlighting multiple of Smith\u2019s athletic failures in basketball, baseball and boxing. The franchise\u2019s social media team also added the audio of one of Smith\u2019s infamous 2008 rants where he called former NBA player Kwame Brown a \u201cbonafide scrub\u201d that can\u2019t play basketball.<\/p>\n Smith responded to the video one day later in Wednesday\u2019s episode of First Take. He ranted for 10 minutes about how the Pelicans social media team used him and his popularity to stay relevant in the NBA.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the thing that really annoys me about the Pelicans,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe heighten our level of sensitivity because I pointed out something about the star of your team and the franchise. You want to use that as an opportunity to get at me. Very, very bad mistake on your part, because as a franchise, you don\u2019t have the credentials.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy popularity is more than anybody on your team outside of Zion,\u201d Smith added. \u201c\u202665 games have been played and you\u2019re still searching for your 20th victory. Y\u2019all are horrible\u201d<\/p>\n Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The post LeBron James Had Supportive Message for Zion Williamson After Lakers\u2019 Win<\/a> appeared first on LA Sports Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n