Zion Williamson has always been a walking headline—whether it’s his highlight-reel dunks, his injuries, or the never-ending debates about his weight. But this time, he’s got the entire NBA community talking for a completely different reason. Fresh off shedding 20 pounds and getting into his best shape since entering the league, Zion decided to mark the moment in a way no one saw coming. Let’s just say, if this is his anime protagonist arc, he’s fully committing to the role.

Because instead of a social media post or a quiet celebration, Zion went all-in with a tattoo choice that had fans doing a double take. Yup! Williamson got the same seal from Naruto inked onto his stomach, just like the anime’s titular character. The key difference?

Naruto didn’t have a choice. Zion did. And NBA fans wasted no time roasting him for it.

This reveal comes as Zion is reportedly down to 284 pounds—the lightest he’s been since entering the league, according to ESPN and NBA.com. Maybe this is all part of his next chapter, shedding weight, leveling up, and now literally sealing the deal. Or maybe that clause in his 2022 contract was enough motivation for him.

Having gone the Naruto route, maybe next, he’ll unlock his Sage Mode on the court? That said, even though this seal protected Naruto from the Nine-Tailed Fox by sealing it within him, nothing could protect Zion from the ceaseless trolling from fans online. Here are some of the best reactions to Zion’s new tattoo.

Zion Williamson gets trolled mercilessly for his new tattoo

In his innocence, Zion Williamson thought he could show off both his weight loss and his new tattoo to everyone online. He should’ve known that positivity is hard to come by in a place where anyone can say whatever they want from behind a screen. All that without having to worry about getting punched in the face by the Pelicans forward. So here are some of the best reactions to his new tattoo.

One fan, though rusty in their Naruto lore, didn’t miss a beat in poking fun at Zion’s apparent affinity for donuts. “The only thing he is summoning with that seal is donuts,” they wrote. This seems to be a reference to the time fans spotted Zion at a Dunkin’ Donuts. Why would he get trolled for that, you ask? Well, this happened right before the Pelicans’ play-in game back in April 2023. Zion didn’t do himself any favors back then.

Others were a little more direct, simply mocking the fact that he still has a slight belly. “he sealed his potential to get leaner? is that it?” questioned another X user. Fans still want him to shed some more weight and get into the best shape possible. Despite the fact that he’s lost 20 pounds!

Two members of the community found themselves agreeing with each other. A rare thing on the internet! “lmao seeing yall post about zion, but its never anything about basketball,” said one user. Another wrote, “He just needs to start playing ball already.” And these fans aren’t wrong to feel this way.

The New Orleans Pelicans sit near the bottom of the Western Conference as the 14th seed. It seems like their season is over already despite having one of the best players in the league on their roster. No wonder these fans just want to see Zion doing his talking on the court!

However, not everyone trolled Zion or criticized him for the tattoo. Some opined that this tattoo was an indication of Zion unleashing his hidden potential on-court. “zion channeling some anime energy with that naruto seal tattoo! might be the secret sauce to unlocking his next level on the court,” said one fan. It seems they still believe in Zion’s ability to help the Pelicans become contenders again.

And this is where we agree with some of the fans. Zion Williamson is only 24, with his best years ahead of him. Even Naruto didn’t master the power of the Nine-Tails until nearly the end of the series. So patience might be the name of the game when it comes to Zion. And while he may never become Hokage, an NBA ring and league MVP may be in the cards for Zion. But only if he unleashes the beast within, much like the anime MC that inspires him!