Two seasons ago, Al Jefferson entered Charlotte Hornets training camp having shed 25 pounds (some of which he attributed to eating less from the fast food chain, Popeye’s). Now with the Pacers, Jefferson is looking slim and trim again and explains to Clifton Brown of the Indianapolis Star how he trimmed down:
The veteran big man was asked how much weight he had lost.
“Since I signed here last year, 40 pounds,” said Jefferson at the Pacers golf outing at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. “Since the season, 20 (pounds).”
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Part of the reason for Jefferson’s diet change was a bad meal he ate several months ago. That convinced him to eliminate meat from his diet.
“I’m a vegetarian now,” said Jefferson. “I got sick eating some home fried chicken. That’s my favorite. I just gave it up. See how long I can do it. I’m not saying it’s forever.”
Asked if chicken was what he missed most, Jefferson smiled.
“Man, you’re making my mouth water,” Jefferson said. “I love chicken. Can we not talk about chicken?”
Jefferson said he was down to 275 pounds, and wanted to reach his rookie weight of 265. To earn consistent playing time at backup center behind Myles Turner, Jefferson knows he must show the Pacers’ coaching staff that he has the quickness to defend big men on the perimeter, and to mesh with the faster tempo they hope to employ.
Jefferson said he was looking forward to the challenge of showing that he can adapt, entering his 14th NBA season.
“When you’re out here defending these guys who play around the 3-point line, you got to be up and ready to move,” Jefferson said. “Ready to defend that pick-and-roll. That’s big in this league right now. That’s one of the things me and Nate talked about going into the offseason.
“It’s all about being dedicated. I feel a lot better. I’m just taking a page out of Tim Duncan’s book. I’m 32, and I know when he got in his early 30s, he started slimming down and took it to another level.”
