“ When you're a one-and-done young hopeful, you rarely experience immediate success “, Judge Adam Cohen. The latter was on the Stanford staff in 2020/21, the only year of university training for Ziaire Williams.
Aged 19 at the time, the latter was drafted in 2021 in 10th place by the Pelicans before starting his career in the Big League with the Grizzlies. “ He had a very good rookie year, then, unfortunately, injuries arrived », recalls his former coach.
This is why the winger, who only played 37 games in his second year, then 51 the next, saw his arrival in Brooklyn as the opening of a new chapter after three mixed first seasons at Memphis.
After 12 games with his new team, the native Californian is showing serious signs of blossoming. Starting a second time in a row, against the Celtics, in the absence of Dorian Finney-Smith, he set a new record this season with 23 points (8/14 on shots) and 6 rebounds.
The question of consistency
At the end of the meeting, his coach Jordi Fernandez explains his good production by a good reading of the opposing defense and constant changes from the inside. “ Ziaire was very, very, very, very good at understanding him, he created for himself and for others “, greet the technician.
Author of 12 points (3/12) and 9 rebounds two days earlier against the Pelicans, Ziaire Williams ensures that he appreciates the working environment in Brooklyn. “ They're pushing me to bare my fangs. That's the most realistic way to put it “, he formulates, before focusing on Jordi Fernandez: “ He coaches me, that's what I like, I grew up like that. […] It helps me show the best of myself. »
Result: the 23-year-old, freed from his physical problems, averages nearly 10 points (46%) and 5 rebounds, his best career averages so far. Even if, like in Memphis, consistency is still not his strong point. After three games with 10 points or more at the end of October, he had four more anecdotal outings before starting.
“ It’s now about being consistent, can they get him there? Can it continue to develop and improve as we all know it can? », asks Adam Cohen. The whole point is there.
| Ziaire Williams | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | M.E.M. | 62 | 22 | 45.0 | 31.4 | 78.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.1 |
| 2022-23 | M.E.M. | 37 | 15 | 42.9 | 25.8 | 77.3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 5.7 |
| 2023-24 | M.E.M. | 51 | 20 | 39.7 | 30.7 | 82.7 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 8.2 |
| 2024-25 | BRK | 12 | 21 | 46.3 | 32.5 | 81.0 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 9.8 |
| Total | 161 | 20 | 42.7 | 30.2 | 80.2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 7.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
