Ziaire Williams has a chance for a contemporary 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 mentioned about that aim Thursday, on Day 3 of Nets coaching camp.
The 2021 No. 10-overall decide spent three seasons with the Grizzlies and bought misplaced within the roster earlier than Memphis let Williams go in a cost-cutting transfer.
Nonetheless, he attributes his expertise to these years and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins’ emphasis on protection.
“I thank Taylor for the ideas he taught me as a result of coming right here, I already knew lots of stuff that they have been instructing due to him, and I’m tremendous appreciative for that,” Williams mentioned at HSS Coaching Middle. “So [assistant] coach Steve [Hetzel], you realize, he’s our essential defensive man. We’ve been watching lots of movie collectively, and he’s had lots 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 undoubtedly shout out to Taylor. He helped me rather a lot on the defensive finish for positive.”
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 below their wing and efficiently developed them into new gamers.
They noticed D’Angelo Russell turn out to be an All-Star in 2018. They rotated Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie into stable gamers.
Now, they’re taking over the job once more, and Williams, who reportedly regarded stable in summer time exercises, is a brand new goal.
The 6-foot-9 ahead believes considered one of his greatest traits is inflicting “havoc” on the courtroom.
He needs to tackle anybody from guard to middle on protection, and offensively, he thrives on chopping alternatives, in addition to on the wing for catch-and-shoot openings.
“A contemporary begin is sweet, however on the finish of the day, you want consistency since you can not maintain having contemporary begins,” Fernandez mentioned Tuesday of each Williams and fifth-year guard Killian Hayes. “You can not say, ‘Oh, I’m accomplished right here. I’ll go elsewhere.’ Generally, whenever you get hit within the mouth, it’s good to recuperate after which begin and take a look at your self within the mirror and say, ‘What did I do incorrect that I can repair myself?’
“The context or the opposite folks, that you just can not management. However you possibly can management what you are able to do. And a contemporary begin, I’m good with it, however I’m gonna decide all people from what I see every single day. And it’s not simply in the future. It’s not two days. You gotta maintain stacking days collectively.”
Williams bought extra of a style of the Nets’ flare Thursday throughout a scrimmage that noticed lots 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 mentioned. “I don’t assume 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 courtroom within the NBA summer time league in Las Vegas, averaging simply 7.8 minutes throughout three video games for two.7 factors per sport.
Final season, he had a career-high common of 8.2 factors per sport on 40 % taking pictures, 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 growth mission, he’s eligible for a rookie extension till Oct. 21. He’ll earn $6.1 million within the last season of his rookie contract.
