The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a promising performance from their fifth 2024-25 season matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nets impressed on both ends of the floor and beat the Grizzlies 119-106. Dennis Schroder was Brooklyn's lead scorer during the night, but let the veteran guard tell the story, Ziaire Williams is the one everyone should be paying attention to.
Williams finished the game with 17 points and 60 percent shooting from the field. He continued to be Brooklyn's biggest sparkplug off the bench. However, his offense is just one part of the story. Williams racked up a whopping four steals and one block on Wednesday night, drawing elite praise from Dennis Schroder.
"[Williams] is hands down one of the best defenders in the league," Schroder told Megan Triplett of YES Network.
At 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Williams undoubtedly has the physical tools to be highly disruptive on the defensive end. He averages 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game through his first five games, but of course, those numbers do not completely capture his impact.
Williams brings a special tenacity to this young Nets defense. His intensity can be seen he when picks up players up full court and shuffles laterally with ease. He did plenty of this during the Nets' Oct. 29 loss to the Denver Nuggets and on Wednesday against the Grizzlies.
The NBA's top defenders better watch out, because Ziaire Williams is quickly climbing the rankings on that end of the floor.
At this point, what can't Williams do?
Ziaire Williams has been something of a Swiss Army Knife for the Nets through the early part of the 2024-25 season. Whether it's making three-pointers, cutting to the rim, or playing suffocating defense, Williams can do it all. Is there any limit to what he can do?
Two of Williams' most important tasks entering his first year with the Nets were staying healthy and improving his three-point shot. So far, he has done both.
After shooting no greater than 31.4 percent on his deep-range shots during his first three seasons with the Grizzlies, Williams shoots a blazing 56.3 percent through five games with the Nets. As for his health, he has appeared in every game for Brooklyn.
If Williams keeps up the production, he just might be able to nab a starting spot with the Nets and become one of Brooklyn's core pieces moving forward.