Hornets Insider: Mark Williams’ growing pains. Two NBA stars chime in on rookie’s potential
.JPG "Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) takes in a pass as Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)")
The true christening of Mark Williams’ career couldn’t have been any more difficult, further underscoring the contrast between the collegiate and professional levels.
“Yeah, nothing like a back-to-back,” the Charlotte Hornets rookie center said with a wry smile. “That’s definitely one of the biggest adjustments, especially going against two of the top teams in the league. It’s something you learn from, it’s something you learn how to adjust.”
Let’s just say two games into his foray as a starter since the Hornets traded Mason Plumlee, Williams could still use a revision or three. And it’s to be expected.
Things actually were going well initially for the Hornets’ big man in Saturday night’s 119-105 loss to Denver, and it’s not a stretch to say Williams initially held his own against the reigning two-time MVP.
Well, for six minutes of game action anyway.
That’s when Nikola Jokić got cooking and took the Hornets’ 2022 first-round pick to school, giving him an educational experience that led to a night of foul trouble and limited Williams to 22 minutes. Jokić drew three fouls in a minuscule 7:43 on Williams with his craftiness, leading to more than a few head-scratching moments.
School was in session. All night. And it’s going to be that way while Williams navigates growing pains.
“Yeah, shoot, that’s a potentially three-time MVP,” he said. “To go against somebody like that that is capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor, it’s something you learn from I guess. That’s the top of the top, so being able to go against that and learn from it is one of the biggest things I’d say.”
“He does a great job creating contact obviously. He is a bigger guy and uses his body well. He puts me in tough situations, so it’s just going to be a learning experience. Something I’m going to learn from.”
Not to worry, though. Williams isn’t the only person to be victimized by Jokić, getting worked over by an array of seemingly-effortless moves as the Nuggets star roars toward his latest triple-double. Jokić has left plenty of others in bewilderment and he, too, understands all about the winding path to improvement.
It takes a few shocks to the system before things begin to finally click.
“I think it’s good when someone – I’m not saying I whooped his ass – but I think it’s good when someone whoops your ass,” Jokić said. “When I came in the league, first or second year, I was playing against Anthony Davis and he gave me 50. So, it’s something that you need to happen for your own good, you know?”
Even if things may not feel that way at the moment.
“He needs to learn the game, of course, the experience of playing,” Jokić said. “Probably the game is so fast for him and he maybe doesn’t know play calls because he didn’t play that much, so it’s really hard for him. But he has an opportunity now. Some players don’t even have an opportunity.
“So, he needs to take the opportunity, be focused mentally for every game, be ready, learn the play calls – opponents and his own team. That’s going to help him. He’s real athletic. He just needs to learn the game a little but, maybe develop and go to the gym, just because the players are so fast and so dynamic and so strong in this league that you need to match that.”
Jokić’s advice? Keep evolving. It’s key for a big man’s longevity, especially in the NBA’s ever-changing landscape where things are tailored more toward creating an excitable style of play fueled by high-octane offense.
From what Jokić sees in Williams so far, the Hornets’ 7-footer has more than enough tangible tools to give the opposition fits and leave his fingerprints on the action.
“It depends on how the team is going to use him,” Jokić said. “If he is going to be a screen roller, then lobs up top (are good) because he’s athletic, big, long. Maybe he can learn a couple of moves to deep seal or whatever. It just depends on the team.
“When I started first in the league, I just was (about) medium, screen rolls, layups, whatever. Then, I started developing the mid range, then they gave me a couple of post ups. So, he needs to learn and develop in the right direction.”
That’s Williams’ hope and he has the ear of another All-Star he was tasked with fending off in his first 24 hours as a starter. As in Boston’s Jayson Tatum, a fellow Duke product.
Williams beams when Tatum’s name is brought up, showing how enthused he is to soak up as much knowledge as possible from the potential 2022-23 MVP candidate. Hey, what could be better among Blue Devils brethren than chatting it up about basketball?
“Yeah, that’s another high level guy, all-NBA player,” Williams said. “Just learning from him, going up against him is where you really can learn both sides of the ball. Obviously, he’s gifted offensively. So, (it’s good) just being able to learn from that and pick up on his habits.”
And Tatum doesn’t mind taking on the role of a professor as if he was back on the campus in Durham. Not one bit.
“I’m a big fan of him,” Tatum said. “Obviously, in his first year it’s been a transition for him. He’s been up and down in the G League, but now with them trading Plumlee he has an opportunity. And I’m excited for him. I’ve known him personally. I love his ability to be a rim threat, shot blocker.
“Obviously, he can shoot a little bit in the mid-range. But now with Mark it’s just going to be that much more comfortable. The more opportunities you get, the more reps you get, the better you feel about yourself. So, I’m excited to see what he does with it.”
This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
