Zion Williamson Expects He Won’t Get Enough Sleep With NBA Debut Approaching

KEY POINTS

Zion Williamson has been caught twice sleeping on the bench in the middle of a game
Williamson is set to make his debut against the Spurs on Wednesday night
The Pelicans are in dire need for more firepower as they make a bid for the eighth seed

Zion Williamson is one of the biggest names in the NBA that has yet to step on the court. The 2019 number one overall pick became a household name when his highlight reel of flashy dunks and unbelievable athleticism took over the Internet.

Coming off one season from Duke, the 19-year-old forward showed promises of his potential when he averaged 23.3 points on 71% shooting in his preseason campaign. Unfortunately, he had to delay his much-awaited regular-season debut as he was sidelined with a knee injury. He’s been out for three months with extended rehab.

Williamson has spent the start of his career on the bench; waiting for the day he can prove to everyone what he can offer. With the time off the court, he’s been criticized heavily on multiple aspects.

The most glaring topic has mostly been on his weight as he’s currently listed at 6 foot 7 and 284 pounds. He’s the second heaviest player in the league only behind Boban Marjanovic who is 7 foot 3 and 290 pounds.

In addition to this, he’s also been called out for sleeping while his team was in the middle of a game. He’s been caught twice fighting the urge to stay awake while seated on the bench – adding to the list of food-related jokes hailed towards the rookie.

With the debut date of Williamson slated on Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, he shared that he is excited about the opportunity.

"Honestly, I don't know if I'm going to get sleep," Williamson joked on Tuesday as a reference to his sleeping highlight. Despite that, he remains to be focused and is ready to go. "This is my first NBA game. This is business now," Williamson said.

The New Orleans Pelicans are in dire need of the top pick’s presence on the court as they were off to a shaky start. The Pelicans at one point had their longest losing streak in franchise history with 13 at the start of the season.

But with the improved play of Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans are slowly climbing back for the eighth seed. They are at the 12th seed 17-27 with the Memphis Grizzlies taking the eighth spot at 20-23.