Ziaire Williams: Joining Brooklyn Nets ‘almost feels like I’m a rookie again’
In Hoopshype interview, the Nets new small forward, talks about his new team, new coach and Brooklyn. Other than Bojan Bogdanovic, the Brooklyn Nets big acquisition this summer has been Ziaire Williams, the 6’9” small forward acquired in a July 19 trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. He talked with Hoopshype about what he hopes to add to the Nets.
It can be argued that the Brooklyn Nets acquisition of Ziaire Williams, the 6’9” small forward picked up in a July 19 trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, amounts to a secondary benefit of the Mikal Bridges deal with the Knicks.
Two weeks after the Bridges deal was completed, Brooklyn traded Mamadi Diakite, a 28-year-old journeyman the Nets got from New York, to Memphis for the 22-year-old former lottery pick — along with a second rounder in 2030. Diakite, who was on a partially guaranteed vets minimum contract, was unlikely to play, even make the final roster. Williams, on the other hand, is the archetypal fallen angel: a player who had yet to live up to his potential, having been the No. 10 pick in the 2021 draft.
In an interview with Hoopshype’s Cyro Asseo de Choch, Williams spoke about the trade, his new coach and how he finds Brooklyn and his new opportunity.
“Finding new places, meeting new people, learning new plays – everything is super new. It almost feels like I’m a rookie again,” Williams said of his experience since the trade. “To be honest with you, I love it, man. I love this opportunity, and I think it’s really a blessing in disguise for me.”
Williams who was taken ahead of Cam Thomas (No. 27) and Day’Ron Sharpe (No. 29) in the 2021 Draft, had a positive rookie season in Memphis as a 19-year-old, averaging 8.1 points a game on 45/31/78 shooting splits. He started 31 of 62 games and Memphis got to the second to the second round of the Western Conference.
Troubled by injuries, he fell off his second year before rebounding (a bit) last season. He basically matched his rookie numbers with some improvement in rebounding (3.5 a game) but with a drop-off in shooting (40/31/83). More importantly, he’s played only 37 games — 88 the last two years. With the Grizzlies needing cap space to sign Luke Kennard, he became a candidate for a salary dump.
Williams admitted that he needs to improve his body if he’s going to make an impact. He, like Thomas and Sharpe, is up for a contract extension as well.
“Definitely, first and foremost, my body,” said Williams when asked what his priority has been this summer. “They say availability is the best ability. I had a nasty little back injury last year, so I’ve been really just every day in the weight room, treatment, just really trying to prioritize my body. And then on the court, just doing all the simple things, man – fine-tuning my shot, reading off closeouts, trying to be great at two or three things rather than trying to be good at a bunch of different things.”
Beyond that, the Stanford product said he looks forward to showing his coach what he can do on defense.
“Definitely versatility on the defensive end, starting off switching 1 through 4, guarding guards, guarding forwards” he said when asked what’s the best skill he brings to the court. “On the offensive end, pushing the pace, being a lob threat, shooting threes, cutting. I feel I could be really like a Swiss army knife, just being used in different areas. And for me personally, I just love to be on the court, man. The coach could put me in any position, and as long as I’m on the court and helping my team in a positive way, I’m a happy man.”
Williams said he thinks he’s made a connection with Jordi Fernandez.
“We got a great coach in Jordi Fernandez and coaching staff, so I’m just looking forward to going out there and hooping, he told Hoopshype’s de Choch, adding what he’s already seen from the first year head coach.
“He’s super chill, man. Very low-key, very relaxed, super welcoming. He’s been great, man. We’ve had some great conversations. He’s gonna keep it real with you. He’s not gonna sugarcoat anything,” said Williams.
“His biggest thing is he wants everybody to be together and have fun. That’s his biggest principle. He’s always asking us to do team bonding events off the court, go to dinner, or whatever, but as long as we’re doing stuff together, it’s gonna translate on the court.”
Williams spoke as well about his relationship with Ja Morant who he bonded with in Memphis. Morant in fact posted on Instagram about how he’s going to miss his friend. Asked if Morant was the same off the court as he is on, Williams told Hoopshype he’s even a better person.
“He flew all the way from Memphis just to come to my camp,” said Williams of his camp this weekend in his hometown of Lancaster, California, outside L.A. in the Mojave desert. “As great as he is on the court, he’s even ten times better off the court.”
Asked how he’d like to be remembered once his NBA career has ended, Williams told de Choch he’d have to think about it.
“Oh, man, just a guy who always prided himself on winning, on playing team culture ball,” he said. “A guy who sacrificed his life for the team, and just a good man who always put his team first and made a couple of baskets every now and then.”
Ziaire Williams: ‘It almost feels like I’m a rookie again’ - Cyro Asseo de Choch - Hoopshype
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings