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.
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’s Malika Andrews.
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Williamson, who missed two games with an ankle injury before returning Tuesday to play against the Lakers, 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.
“The most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. … There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game. … I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”
“The most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot. … There was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game. … I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball.”
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson on the most difficult point during… pic.twitter.com/tf9CnsZ3VX
— ESPN (@espn) March 2, 2026
Shortly after Williamson’s interview, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called Williamson a “food addict” during Tuesday’s episode of First Take. Smith was one of Williamson’s biggest critics when he was recovering from his broken foot in the 2022-23 season.
“You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!” Smith said.
“You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!” – Stephen A. Smith responds to Zion Williamson pic.twitter.com/5TdvA4FZPR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 3, 2026
LeBron James Showed His Support For Williamson After Tuesday’s Game
Lakers superstar LeBron James has also been a target of Smith’s harsh criticisms throughout his career. Smith has been open about his strong dislike for the four-time NBA champion.
After the Lakers’ 110-101 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday, James hugged Williamson and told him to ignore Smith’s comments about his eating habits.
“F— all that bulls— about Stephen A.,” James seemingly told Williamson after the game.
LeBron James to Zion Williamson about Stephen A. Smith’s comments about Zion’s eating habits:
“Fu*k all that B.S. about Stephen A.” pic.twitter.com/YgS0IgV3Ah
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 4, 2026
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Pelicans Trolled Smith With Social Media Video, Smith Responded With 10-Minute Rant
The Pelicans posted a video compilation highlighting multiple of Smith’s athletic failures in basketball, baseball and boxing. The franchise’s social media team also added the audio of one of Smith’s infamous 2008 rants where he called former NBA player Kwame Brown a “bonafide scrub” that can’t play basketball.
Smith responded to the video one day later in Wednesday’s 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.
“Here’s the thing that really annoys me about the Pelicans,” Smith said. “We 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’t have the credentials.”
“My popularity is more than anybody on your team outside of Zion,” Smith added. “…65 games have been played and you’re still searching for your 20th victory. Y’all are horrible”
Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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The post LeBron James Had Supportive Message for Zion Williamson After Lakers’ Win appeared first on LA Sports Report.