Why Marvin Williams believes he left Hornets in better shape than when he arrived
After 15 seasons, you’d think Marvin Williams had experienced everything about the NBA.
Not an in-season team change. When Williams did a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets Feb. 8 to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, it was the first time he didn’t have an off-season to settle in.
He’s immediately adapted to playing for the Bucks, averaging 17 minutes as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s backup at power forward. It’s the changes outside basketball that have been complicated.
“My family is up here now and we’ve finally found a place to stay,” Williams said Thursday in a phone interview before Sunday’s Hornets-Bucks game at Spectrum Center.
“The easiest thing is actually the basketball aspect. I’m in a new city meeting new people. All new teammates. Once I get out there on the court, it’s still all basketball.”
Williams said he was intrigued by three Eastern Conference contenders: The Bucks, the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee — with the best record in the NBA at 50-8 through Thursday — expressed immediate interest when Williams and his agent started investigating a buyout on part of his $14 million salary.
Contenders practice little the second half of a season to rest core players’ legs for games. Williams got a brief workout with his teammates three days after signing, then played 20 minutes versus the Indiana Pacers. That’s been the norm since, including guarding Raptors star Pascal Siakam, last season’s Most Improved Player.
Willliams’ strengths — defensive savvy and 3-point shooting — would fit any contender. While the Bucks’ and Hornets’ offenses are similar, including terminology, it was easier, Williams said, to immediately blend in defensively.
“You don’t have to learn new people on defense,” Williams said. “I’m still learning the plays and learning (new teammates’) tendencies: ‘Should I wait a little longer (before moving)? Does he like a little more time here?’”
‘Nothing but love’
Williams arrived in Charlotte in the summer of 2014 as a relatively minor free-agent signing. While Williams had been the No. 2 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2005, after helping North Carolina win a national championship, there was no sense when he arrived in Charlotte that Williams would be a core piece for the Hornets.
Along the way, Charlotte became home. Williams might no longer be a Hornet, but he still sees Charlotte as where he’d like to raise his kids. He took out an ad in the Charlotte Observer after signing with the Bucks, thanking fans for how welcome he always felt.
“From Day 1 (Hornets fans) showed nothing but love for me,” Williams said.
“You hear people say you always want to leave something in better shape than when you got it. I think (the Hornets were) in bad shape when I got there. I want people to remember I tried to do the right things when I was there.
“I want the fans to know I always tried to play as hard as I can, and tried to represent them when I was there. I wanted my teammates to know I always had their back when I was there. I wanted my coaches to know that, whether I had a torn ligament in my foot or I was not feeling good or had a family issue at home, I was going to lace them up for them. That’s just who I am.”
‘Just fine’
The Hornets’ youth movement had de-emphasized Williams this season. He went from a starter (which he endorsed long before coach James Borrego made the decision) to playing sporadic minutes.
What endured was Williams’ leadership value; so much so that Borrego reminded them they had to be more self-reliant now.
An example point guard Devonte Graham noted recently: Williams would come back at night on practice days with his dad to get up some extra shots. He’d invite teammates to join him, saying, “Hey, my dad loves rebounding for everybody.”
Now, Graham said, it’s on the young guys to get themselves back for extra shots.
How does Williams see this hard pivot to youth playing out?
“Just fine,” Williams said. “I’ve been part of youth movements; you’re going to have some bumps and bruises. I think Charlotte’s fan base understands that and is excited. To have three young players in the Rising Stars game is unbelievable. Seeing that as your future shows what J.B. and his staff has done as far as player development.”
Williams has been so busy, he hasn’t really thought what Sunday will be like returning to Charlotte. Except for one perk Saturday night:
“Sleeping in my own bed!” Williams said. “I’ve been in a hotel for so long.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 12:10 PM.
