Is Mark Williams back on track? How Hornets’ latest trade reflects on Charlotte center
With more time available than previously expected during the early portion of the road trip, Mark Williams got the chance to see who many people in the basketball world are wild about.
Over the weekend, in part because the game against the LA Clippers got postponed, the Charlotte Hornets center watched Duke phenom Cooper Flagg break the ACC’s single-game scoring record for freshmen with 42 points.
“I mean, 40 in college is tough period — anywhere — it doesn’t matter where you are,” Williams said. “To do that, he obviously played really well, shot it well, got to the line, what was it like 16 free throws?
“To play with that level of aggression, just doing a little bit of everything, finding his teammates, rebounding the ball, super smart player, super high IQ. So, he did great.”
Williams knows a thing or two about Duke, having suited up for the Blue Devils for two seasons prior to the Hornets drafting him in 2023. And he also is well-versed in the subtleties that come with being a big man in the NBA, the latest outing coming in Wednesday night’s 117-112 win over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center.
In his first game without Nick Richards backing him up following a trade hours before taking the court against Utah, the Hornets’ starting center pumped in a career-best 31 points and snatched 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. He threw down nine dunks, hitting 12 of 14 attempts while continuing to knock off plenty of the rust that accumulated with him missing nearly a full year of action.
“I feel pretty good, man,” Williams said. “Body wise I feel like I’m in a pretty good place.”
The Hornets (8-29) are obviously pleased with his progress, otherwise they wouldn’t have dealt Richards. Essentially, he’s a walking double-double. Combined with his effort during Sunday’s loss in Phoenix, Williams has totaled 55 points while making 80% of his shots during the road trip, becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least 50 points and connect on 80% of his attempts over a two-game span.
So, Williams’ confidence was already on the rise, increasing in the aftermath of his most productive effort through his initial 14 games of 2024-25, when he logged season highs in points (24), rebounds (16) and offensive rebounds (six) against the Suns.
By scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the first half versus Phoenix, Williams became just second player in franchise history since 1996-97 to meet achieve those numbers in a half — Dwight Howard being the other — and joined Denver’s Nikola Jokic and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama as the only players to do so this season.
The 7-footer is averaging 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists since his return from a foot injury.
“It’s coming along really well,” coach Charles Lee said. “I think game-by-game, we are just seeing him getting a little more comfortable, him finding his rhythm on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he has such a great basketball IQ and I think that he’s in the right place right now.”
But Lee wants Williams to reach that next step, leaping forward in a couple of areas.
“Now he needs to find that quick switch and go block that shot,” Lee said. “(It’s like), ‘I’m right here in front of you and I’m going to block it but I’ve got to load up first and I’ve got to do this.’ So, when we get him to get to that point of, ‘You’re in the right spot and you’re impacting shots in the paint,’ it’s going to take our defense to a whole another level.”
Same goes for the opposite side of the ball.
“When he understands the physicality of how I have to screen to get somebody open at the seam, he’s dangerous in the seam,” Lee said. “He can score, he’s a really good passer, he gets fouled and he’s also opening up other opportunities for the ball-handlers as well.”
When Lee’s message was relayed to Williams, he nodded. He concurred completely, underscoring the importance of being more proactive instead of reactive.
“For sure,” Williams said. “I think that’ll be something I get with playing more, just playing more. Obviously, it’s been a while. But yeah. Like timing on blocks, rebounds, knowing when to contest, when not to contest. That sort of stuff.
“I think it’s a feel thing that I’m going to gain back with each game I play.”
That’s what he’s focused on most now. There’s still plenty of refining to do and few things he’s eager to smooth out and polish so he can shine a little more.
“I think just getting chemistry back with the guys in terms of my rolls, my timeouts,” Williams said. “Obviously, I’ve been getting into a lot of my floaters, which has been good. But I think just continuing to play bug out the short roll, hitting the guys in the corner. But I think it’s all just sort of stuff that comes with playing.”
Sounds an awful lot like what people will be suggesting about Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall selection in the June NBA draft, over the coming years.
“Yeah, I think he can be really good,” Williams said. “Obviously, I got to watch him in the summer, got to watch that game (last Saturday). At his size, being able to do a little bit of everything on the court, rebound, facilitate, score, I think the sky’s the limit for him if he continues to work as hard as he does.”
