Biyombo doesn’t want to squander the opportunity he’s earned. As an example, those who know him well speak to his diligence in the weight room and focus on nutrition. Adcock says the nine-year NBA veteran is always working on a diet of some kind. He often requests food substitutions or orders unlisted items at restaurants. “All he eats is plants. Plants and fruits,” his teammate Cody Zeller adds. “I’m like, How do you have enough energy to play in games. But he’s crazy strong.”
Cody Zeller Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C-F
Born: 10/05/92
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $14,471,910
Born: 10/05/92
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:230 lbs. / 104.3 kg.
Salary: $14,471,910
Indiana’s own Cody Zeller was 5 years old in 1998, growing up in Washington, Indiana, when Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their second NBA Championship three-peat. “I remember watching the games with my dad in our unfinished basement on a fifteen-inch TV. We sat down there for all the playoff games,” Zeller told FOX59’s JoJo Gentry. “Those are some of my earliest basketball memories, but also seeing MJ for the first time.”
Charlotte drafted Cody fourth overall, and he has been there ever since. Zeller is in his seventh year playing for the Hornets and team owner Michael Jordan. “The first time I talked to him on the phone was right after I walked the stage after being drafted,” he said. “I’ve never gotten over the fact that he’s never just another guy. Everyone knows when he is in the building. Anytime you can get a few minutes with him is special.”
Zeller says Jordan stops by team practices periodically. For Cody, seeing Jordan around the Hornets facilities never gets old. “Even now, there is a little extra jitters just because he is who he is.”
“What size are those?” Eyewitness News reporter Kevin Rader asked Zeller while looking at his shoes during an exclusive one-on-one interview after practice Tuesday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. “Sixteen,” he replied. “I told them there is a lot of real estate on these shoes,” Zeller laughed. “A lot of free room for drawing.” So he asked the kids at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health to use his shoes as a canvas – and they did.
Twelve-year-old Jack Moon, a Riley Hospital cancer survivor from Plainfield, is one of the honored artists. He drew the hoop. “I drew a picture of (the) Indiana outline, because Cody Zeller went to school in Indiana and that because he plays basketball,” he said pointing to the basketball hoop design he drew. Now Jack and all the other kids who helped design the shoe will have a meet and greet with Cody prior to Tuesday night’s game with the Pacers at the Fieldhouse.
Cody Zeller: Tomorrow I’ll be wearing these sweet Indiana themed #KicksForKids designed by kids at Riley Hospital for Children! With a $15,000 donation to @RileyKids I want to continue to encourage kids to make the most of their childhood and never grow up!
Rod Boone: Final in OT: Raptors 112, Hornets 110 Terry Rozier 27 pts/3 assists Miles Bridges 26 pts/9 rebs Cody Zeller 14 pts/8 rebs Up next: @ Utah on Friday to start a four-game road trip
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller is available for the Hornets tonight after missing last 2 games with a left hip bruise. He will play off the bench, and Bismack Biyombo will again start.
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller out tonight
If anyone with the Hornets truly saw Walker blossom, it’s Zeller. “The first time we interacted, he is my brother’s age, and they both played in the McDonald’s (high school) game the same year,” Zeller said. “So I went to watch my brother (Tyler), and I had never heard of Kemba before. But I remember even in the practices, he was picking up full court. My dad and I were like, ‘I don’t know who that guy is, but I like him a lot.’ He’s just a tough, gritty guy, and back then Kemba wasn’t real skilled. He couldn’t shoot as well. He just played super hard; he was flying around the court. So my dad and I said, even from those first two kind of closed practices, we’re like, ‘I like this guy.’ So it’s kind of cool that it has come full circle and we got to play together. I’ve told him that story a couple times before.”
Rod Boone: James Borrego said Cody Zeller and Marvin Williams are both ready to go tonight vs. the Lakers.
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller was excused from @Charlotte Hornets practice for a personal reason Thursday. Unresolved whether he will be available versus Timberwolves.
Cody Zeller: pic.twitter.com/XhN7KuETk8
22 Jun 19
Gallery 22 Jun 19
2013 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been
Two Euro players selected outside of the lottery in the top spots.
Last year was such a young draft. The top five picks were 19.9, 19.3, 19.3, 18.8 and 19.1 years old, respectively. That’s the first time in NBA history that the top five picks were teenagers. To put that in perspective, as recently as 2013 — the Anthony Bennett year — there were no teenagers in the top five; Bennett, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter Jr., Cody Zeller and Alex Len were all in their 20s. “The average age of drafted players is the lowest of all time,” noted one assistant GM. “That probably increases variance.”
“I try to keep things pretty light, but in all reality it’s a pretty serious situation for all of us,” Zeller said. “I mean, our careers and a lot of the organization to be honest with you depends on what Kemba decides this summer, whether he stays or goes. I think it really depends on his choice. But our team and our future can go two very different ways depending on what he decides. So I was kind of trying to make light of a serious situation. But I think for Kemba, he’s been great. I’ve been fortunate to play with him for all six years of my career, and a lot of minutes on the court together, and he’s been great.”
“So I think he likes Charlotte. I think he’s a good fit here. But the reality of it is we haven’t been able to make deep runs in the playoffs. So hopefully that will still come in the future. But at the end of the day, Kemba has to do what’s best for him. And I’m going to support him, whatever decision he makes.”
Regardless of some impressive numbers and performances, the 2018-19 NBA campaign didn’t go entirely as planned for Hornets center Cody Zeller. Between a broken right hand and lingering left knee soreness that ultimately ended his season prematurely, the 26-year-old made just 49 appearances this year, a number that came in far short of his personal expectations. “It was really frustrating. Coming into the season, it was my goal to play 75 games and to be healthy,” said Zeller during his exit interview on April 11. “Even going into the offseason, it’s frustrating. I wish it was something that was skill-based like I have to get stronger, shoot better, be on the court. I have to stay healthy for next year. I’ll do whatever it takes and I’ll be back next year.”
Zeller said in mid-April that he’s been feeling better lately and doesn’t plan on having surgery at any point this offseason. The main plan of attack for he and the Hornets Medical Staff moving forward will be figuring out a path to staying healthy for a full season. “[My knee] is structurally fine,” he said. “There’s a little bit of wear and tear, but I’ve played basketball for 26 years. I think if you got a picture of every guy on our team and every guy in the NBA, there’d be wear and tear. The biggest issue is just the swelling, so hopefully we can address that. Hopefully, we’ll be past it and not have to worry about it again.”
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller said no indication he’d need surgery on the knee that kept him out of the last dozen or so games. He said the swelling is down.
Cody Zeller: Dirk Nowitzki was my favorite player growing up. I remember saying “I want to be like Dirk when I grow up!” For years I watched his patented fade away and I saw him lead the Mavericks to a championship. I never imagined that I would have the chance to meet him or guard him! Early in my rookie year, we played in Dallas and I was assigned the Dirk matchup. Part of me was nervous because I was finally going to meet my childhood hero and the other part of me was nervous because I had no chance of stopping him. I had seen so many guys before me unsuccessfully try to stop Dirk! One thing was for sure, I had the scouting report down! As the game started, I played him tough on every catch, didn’t let him have any easy buckets, and I tried to wear him out with my energy. At halftime he was 1-11 with 4 points! I came into the locker room thinking that I had this whole NBA thing mastered 15 games into my rookie year! I was the Dirk stopper! Then we went out for the second half….Dirk finished 10-21 with 25 points including 14 in a row down the stretch in the 4th quarter! Lesson learned! Thank you Dirk for being a great role model on and off the court for so many people including myself. It’s been a dream come true to share the court and a handful of personal interactions throughout my career. For me one thing hasn’t changed over the years, I still want to be like Dirk when I grow up!!!
Rick Bonnell: Hornets coach James Borrego said no determination on whether Marvin Williams and/or Cody Zeller plays any more this season. Both out tonight.
Rod Boone: Cody Zeller putting up shots. He’s out for 11th straight game. He said Malik inspired him to go with the headband look. Asked James Borrego if they’re shutting Zeller down. “We’re not there yet,” he said. “… At some point we may have to make that call but we are not there yet.”
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller is out for the Hornets; 5th in a row with left knee soreness and swelling. No indication when (or if) this season that MKG will be back from his concussion.
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller again listed as doubtful (left knee soreness) for Tuesday home game against the 76ers. If he misses this one, that would be four in a row. Might this end up like last season, when Zeller was shut down last several weeks?
Rick Bonnell: The @Charlotte Hornets list center Cody Zeller as doubtful to play Sunday in Miami against the Heat. He has missed the last 2 games with a sore knee. Getting back Zeller would be big in a game of such consequence to Hornets’ slim margin for error to reach playoffs.
Rod Boone: Cody Zeller is out tonight vs. Wizards, James Borrego said. MKG looked good in early pregame warmups and will play.
Rod Boone: James Borrego on Cody Zeller: “He’s day-to-day right now. He’s progressing the right way, just not enough to go tonight. So hopefully by Sunday (in Miami)., we’ll have him back. That’s not a guarantee, but I think he’s making progress over the last few days.”
Rod Boone: Tony Parker (rest) is also out for #Hornets tonight. So to recap: No Parker, MKG (left knee strain), Cody Zeller (left knee soreness) or Marvin Williams (illness) vs. Rockets.
Rod Boone: James Borrego said Cody Zeller will move back into the starting lineup tonight. Will likely see an uptick in minutes as a result.
Rod Boone: Source: #Hornets are definitely looking to shake things up and it appears something will go down. Package for Marc Gasol could include either Bismack Biyombo or Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. #Hornets apparently still working to hash it all out.
Rick Bonnell: Cody Zeller will NOT start. Minutes TBD.
Rod Boone: James Borrego said Cody Zeller is “close.” Cody is still on the court post-practice doing drills. Reading the tea leaves, sounds like he’s going to be questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. Clippers. The guess here is unless he has a setback with next 24 hours, he’ll play. pic.twitter.com/fNzv3knhke
Rod Boone: There’s a possibility Cody Zeller will be able to return before the All-Star break, James Borrego said. Cody was out a little while ago going through some drills. Definitely appears to be near to getting back into the lineup.
Rick Bonnell: @Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego says center Cody Zeller is “close” to being cleared to play. So far this season, Borrego has been reluctant to speculate on injuries, so that sounds promising for Zeller, recovering from a broken hand.
Rod Boone: James Borrego said Cody Zeller is “about a week away” from returning. Said he’s close and when he comes back it will make #Hornets a deeper team.
Scott Agness: Cody Zeller remains out after right hand surgery. He last played on NYE. He’s “doing great,” according to coach James Borrego and is with the team for this three-game road trip. He’s likely two weeks away from returning.
Rick Bonnell: Looks like progress regarding @Cody Zeller (but still weeks away from playing following a broken hand). pic.twitter.com/e3w8wY2AJE
Rod Boone: Cody Zeller spoke today for the first time since fracturing his right hand and undergoing surgery earlier this month. Unclear how much longer he’ll be out. Just started oncourt activities yesterday. Asked him how injury happened and his thoughts on #Hornets struggles without him:
