Ziaire Williams has a chance for a recent begin, and whereas he’s nonetheless adjusting to a brand new staff and new metropolis, that doesn’t imply he’s backing down from head coach Jordi Fernandez’s problem to be a high defender for the Nets.
“Hell yeah,” Williams stated about that aim Thursday, on Day 3 of Nets coaching camp.
The 2021 No. 10-overall decide spent three seasons with the Grizzlies and received misplaced within the roster earlier than Memphis let Williams go in a cost-cutting transfer.
Nevertheless, he attributes his abilities to these years and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins’ emphasis on protection.
“I thank Taylor for the rules he taught me as a result of coming right here, I already knew a whole lot of stuff that they have been instructing due to him, and I’m tremendous appreciative for that,” Williams stated at HSS Coaching Middle. “So [assistant] coach Steve [Hetzel], you already know, he’s our primary defensive man. We’ve been watching a whole lot of movie collectively, and he’s had a whole lot of good issues to say. And, in fact, there’s a pair issues I have to work on. So it’s been nice, man. However positively shout out to Taylor. He helped me quite a bit on the defensive finish for certain.”
Williams, 23, is considered one of many gamers attempting to suit into the Nets rebuild after a 32-50 season and the lack of Mikal Bridges within the offseason to the crosstown rival Knicks.
The Nets’ final rebuilding years have been from 2016-2019, and so they took discarded expertise beneath their wing and efficiently developed them into new gamers.
They noticed D’Angelo Russell change into an All-Star in 2018. They circled Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie into stable gamers.
Now, they’re taking over the job once more, and Williams, who reportedly seemed stable in summer time exercises, is a brand new goal.
The 6-foot-9 ahead believes considered one of his finest traits is inflicting “havoc” on the court docket.
He desires to tackle anybody from guard to middle on protection, and offensively, he thrives on reducing alternatives, in addition to on the wing for catch-and-shoot openings.
“A recent begin is sweet, however on the finish of the day, you want consistency since you can not maintain having recent begins,” Fernandez stated Tuesday of each Williams and fifth-year guard Killian Hayes. “You can not say, ‘Oh, I’m executed right here. I’ll go some place else.’ Typically, whenever you get hit within the mouth, it’s good to recuperate after which begin and have a look at your self within the mirror and say, ‘What did I do mistaken that I can repair myself?’
“The context or the opposite individuals, that you simply can not management. However you’ll be able to management what you are able to do. And a recent begin, I’m good with it, however I’m gonna choose everyone from what I see day by day. And it’s not simply at some point. It’s not two days. You gotta maintain stacking days collectively.”
Williams received extra of a style of the Nets’ flare Thursday throughout a scrimmage that noticed a whole lot of physicality the day earlier than the staff leaves for San Diego to proceed coaching camp.
“I imply, truthfully, I really feel like I’m nonetheless adjusting,” Williams stated. “I don’t suppose I’ll actually say I’m adjusted till we begin enjoying actual video games, however I’m coming alongside very well, and studying the performs and chemistry with guys has been higher and higher. It’s been nice, man, so I’m simply trusting my work and trusting the employees each day. And like Coach [Fernandez] says, simply attempting to get one % higher.”
He had little time on the court docket within the NBA summer time league in Las Vegas, averaging simply 7.8 minutes throughout three video games for two.7 factors per recreation.
Final season, he had a career-high common of 8.2 factors per recreation on 40 % capturing, together with 3.5 rebounds, however he shot simply 30.7 % from past the arc throughout 51 video games earlier than struggling a again damage March 2 that saved him out for the rest of the season.
If the Nets like what they see from Williams and wish to proceed their improvement venture, he’s eligible for a rookie extension till Oct. 21. He’ll earn $6.1 million within the closing season of his rookie contract.
