Sean Williams Vomits: Mavericks Player Pukes On Sideline During Game (VIDEO)

If you thought watching the Dallas Mavericks' unsteady start to the 2011-2012 NBA season was unpleasant then perhaps you should try playing for them. Apparently, the experience made reserve center Sean Williams literally sick to his stomach.

With just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks' loss to the Nuggets, Williams began tugging on his shirt and looking to the bench. He needed out of the game. Immediately. Because he was about to throw up.

After not getting a minute of run in the Mav's Christmas day loss to the Heat, you might be think that Williams would have been thrilled to crack the rotation. And, having scored 12 points during his 11 minutes on the floor, it would seem that coach Rick Carlisle might have found someone to fill, at least in part, the void left by the departure of center Tyson Chandler. Not so fast.

Not likely expecting to play a key role in the game, Williams was physically unprepared for the exertion. He made it to the bench, just barely, before losing his lunch.

"It was awkward, man, pretty awkward," Williams told reporters after the loss. "It's never happened to me before -- not ever, even in a practice."

Although Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of Williams' teammates could be seen laughing as arena personnel cleaned up the mess -- even Mavs owner Mark Cuban seemed to enjoy a rare moment of mirth -- the fact that Williams seemingly wasn't ready to go speaks to the confusion surrounding the Mavs as they begin their title defense. Thankfully for Williams, his coach seemed to think that the episode was a good -- albeit gross -- thing.

"He did a terrific job," said Carlisle after the game. "He brought energy, brought athleticism, made plays. He was playing so hard, he threw up. That tells you that he was going at it the way you need to."