The Harlem rapper turned podcaster roasted Zion’s slimmer look on It Is What It Is, sparking laughs and debate in regards to the Pelicans star’s well being.

Zion Williamson has entered the 2025–26 NBA season wanting like a brand new man. After years of criticism over his weight and conditioning, the New Orleans Pelicans ahead confirmed as much as media day noticeably slimmer, estimated round 30–40 kilos lighter than his peak taking part in weight.

The transformation instantly fueled optimism for his sturdiness and efficiency. Zion has missed greater than half of his profession video games resulting from accidents, however when wholesome, he’s been one of the dominant offensive gamers in basketball. At his greatest, he has drawn comparisons to Shaquille O’Neal, averaging over 26 factors per recreation in his All-Star campaigns.

However alongside the intense basketball discuss got here one thing else solely—a viral roast from Cam’ron that had the web crying with laughter.

Cam’ron Drops a Wild Analogy on It Is What It Is

On the newest episode of It Is What It Is, the unfiltered sports activities discuss present hosted by Cam’ron and Ma$e, Zion’s new look turned a subject of debate. Co-host Treasure Wilson opened by praising the ahead’s leaner physique and asking if it might change the Pelicans’ season outlook.

Cam’ron agreed Zion regarded good however couldn’t resist turning the dialog right into a joke. He in contrast Zion’s transformation to “the crackheads within the neighborhood getting clear,” stating how dramatic the before-and-after distinction was.

The supply, full with animated hand gestures and Ma$e’s trademark deadpan chuckle, despatched the studio into chaos. Treasure laughed so laborious she spilled water on set, whereas Cam’ron leaned into the bit, mimicking gaunt poses and exaggerated “glow-up” physique language.

The Joke That Hit House in Harlem

Cam’s comparability wasn’t random. For communities hit hardest by the crack epidemic of the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, the picture of somebody out of the blue regaining weight and searching wholesome once more after years of wrestle is acquainted. By evaluating Zion’s transformation to that, Cam’ron grounded his commentary in a reference his Harlem viewers understood.

The remark wasn’t meant as an insult however as a backhanded praise. Zion’s weight reduction is so noticeable that it reminded Cam of transformations you’ll be able to’t ignore—whether or not it’s somebody recovering from habit or, in Zion’s case, somebody committing to peak athletic form.

The authenticity of the analogy resonated, even when it was politically incorrect. For Cam, who constructed his rap profession on blunt honesty, it was one other instance of the type of uncooked, barbershop humor that makes his podcast go viral week after week.

Why Zion’s Weight Has At all times Been a Storyline

Since coming into the league because the No. 1 general choose in 2019, Zion Williamson’s weight and conditioning have been scrutinized as a lot as his highlights. His explosive recreation—powered by his dimension and leaping skill—has usually been overshadowed by questions on whether or not his physique might maintain up over time.

At occasions, his fluctuating body has drawn brutal commentary from followers, media, and even former gamers. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and others have roasted him on nationwide tv for being “too massive.” The Pelicans even added clauses to his contract tying assured cash to his conditioning.

That’s why his new, slimmer look has sparked such pleasure. If Zion can keep in form and on the courtroom, New Orleans out of the blue seems like a contender within the Western Convention.

Social Media Runs With The “Crackhead” Line

The clip of Cam’ron’s analogy rapidly unfold on X, amassing a whole bunch of 1000’s of views inside hours. Most customers reacted with laughter, turning the remark into meme materials. “Zion on the crackhead food plan” turned a trending phrase, with followers remixing before-and-after pictures of the star.

Not everybody thought it was humorous. Some critics known as out the comparability as disrespectful, saying it trivialized habit. Others argued that it fed into the fixed body-shaming Zion has endured all through his profession.

However many defended the joke as lighthearted, stating that Zion himself has confronted harsher critiques up to now. The general tone of the response leaned comedic slightly than malicious, according to Cam’ron’s popularity for roasting everybody equally.

What This Means For The Pelicans’ Season

Whereas the jokes dominate social media, the actual story is what Zion’s transformation means on the courtroom. A leaner Williamson might imply extra stamina, fewer accidents, and a return to All-NBA type.

The Pelicans, led by Zion alongside a new-look roster together with Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, have the expertise to make noise within the West. However their ceiling has at all times been tied to Zion’s availability. If his weight reduction interprets into higher sturdiness, the crew might transfer from play-in hopefuls to playoff locks.

Coach Willie Inexperienced has already emphasised Zion’s conditioning as the important thing to unlocking the Pelicans’ potential. Followers, in the meantime, are cautiously optimistic—hopeful however scarred by years of setbacks.

Cam’ron and Ma$e: Masters of Viral Sports activities Speak

Episodes of It Is What It Is thrive on moments like this. Cam and Ma$e don’t purpose for polished evaluation; they purpose for uncooked, humorous, and actual conversations that sound like Harlem barbershop discuss. Their chemistry, mixed with Treasure Wilson’s sharp interjections, has made the present a constant supply of viral clips.

Whether or not they’re debating NBA stars, clowning NFL gamers, or roasting popular culture moments, the present has carved out a lane by refusing to censor itself. The Zion section is simply the newest instance of their model of sports activities commentary—blunt, hilarious, and inconceivable to disregard.

The Greater Image: Redemption and Scrutiny

Cam’s “crackhead” analogy might need been outrageous, however it factors to one thing deeper: the way in which Zion Williamson’s profession has been framed as a redemption story. Each pound misplaced, each recreation performed, and each dunk thrown down is seen by way of the lens of what he might be if he stays wholesome.

For Zion, the problem now’s to show the thrill round his transformation into outcomes. For the Pelicans, it’s about maximizing a roster constructed round their younger star. And for followers, it’s about holding their breath—hoping that is lastly the season Zion fulfills his potential.