Zion jokes he was meditating, not sleeping, on bench

Zion Williamson is expected to make his regular-season debut Wednesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs, and it can't come soon enough for the New Orleans Pelicans rookie.

After being caught dozing off on the bench recently, Williamson joked Tuesday that he'd actually been in a meditative state.

"It's been difficult. If y'all saw me meditating on the sidelines, it's been very difficult," he told reporters, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.

Williamson struggled to keep his eyes open during the Pelicans' overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 13 and again Saturday during their 133-130 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Williamson has been sidelined since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn right lateral meniscus in October.