Earlier this week, Ziaire Williams hosted his third annual Antelope Valley Basketball Clinic back in his hometown of Lancaster, Penn. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant joined Williams at the event and there were over 200 kids in attendance.
Ahead of a critical fourth season in the NBA, between workouts and offseason travel, Williams took time out of his schedule to give back.
“It means a lot seeing all these young faces,” Williams told the Antelope Valley Press. “Just continue to work hard and have fun.”
The Nets acquired Williams, a former lottery pick, from Memphis in July with hopes of igniting his untapped potential. The 22-year-old now has an opportunity at a fresh start with a rebuilding franchise that expected to prioritize minutes for its younger talent next season.
Williams averaged 7.5 points per game on 42.6% shooting in three seasons with the Grizzlies and averaged a career-best 8.2 points per game last season. However, ankle injuries forced the former five-star recruit to miss significant time during his 2021-22 and 2022-23 NBA campaigns. He dealt with a back issue and hip flexor strain in February.
In a recent interview with HoopsHype, Williams shared his first public thoughts since being traded to the Nets. His offseason has been a hectic one, to say the least.
“It’s been crazy, man. I can’t lie,” Williams said. “There’s been a lot, but I got a great supporting cast with me — my mom, my dad, and a bunch of others on my team that are making it a lot easier. Finding new places, meeting new people, learning new plays — everything is super new. It almost feels like I’m a rookie again.”
However, despite his whirlwind of a summer, Williams is excited about his new opportunity in Brooklyn. He understands that availability is the best ability any player can have and has been hellbent on improving his body to survive an 82-game season.
If done right, Williams believes he can finally put himself in position to show the rest of the league what he is capable of. He does not want to be known as an injury-prone player. He wants to prove that he can be a versatile defender, an efficient 3-point shooter and a lob threat in transition.
“You know, it’s definitely going to be a little different, but it’s a great opportunity for me to keep driving and showcase my skills,” Williams said. “We got a great coach in Jordi Fernandez and coaching staff, so I’m just looking forward to going out there and hooping.”
Williams also shared that his relationship with Fernandez, the Nets’ first-year head coach, has gotten off to a promising start.
“Very low-key, very relaxed, super welcoming. He’s been great, man,” Williams said of Fernandez. “We’ve had some great conversations. He’s going to keep it real with you. He’s not going to sugarcoat anything. 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 going to translate on the court.”
And if all goes right for Williams in Brooklyn, what can fans expect?
“I feel I could be really like a Swiss army knife, just being used in different areas,” Williams said “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.”
