Ziaire Williams has resumed on-court work after lacking three straight video games due to a left knee sprain. Whereas the Nets ahead will doubtless miss Friday’s rematch in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies as properly, he expects to return “sooner than later”.
“Just been doing a lot of simple stuff right now,” Williams mentioned. “Not moving too much but definitely making good progress. Just listening to the training staff. I’m the type of guy who wants to just do everything right away, so they’ve been holding me back just a little bit, just out of precaution. Moving pretty well right now. Haven’t been any setbacks or anything so I should be back pretty soon.”
Talking to reporters after Wednesday’s follow in Brooklyn, Williams added that his present rehab course of is minor in comparison with what he has skilled previously. Head coach Jordi Fernandez, affiliate head coach Steve Hetzel, and assistant coach Connor Griffin have been holding him up to date with the crew’s schemes at each ends of the court docket whereas sidelined.”
“I’m definitely grateful for those experiences I had in the past, and it’s helped me just attack this rehab every day on a professional level to the best of my ability. And I’m confident that when I’ll be back, I’ll be even better than I was before.”
Williams and a Dallas Mavericks 2030 second-round decide had been traded from the Grizzlies to the Nets in July in trade for Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic. The 23-year-old has averaged career-highs in minutes per recreation (21.8), factors per recreation (8.6), free throws and free throw makes an attempt per recreation (1.7, 2.1) offensive, protection and whole rebounds per recreation (1.0, 3.3, 4.4) and steals per recreation (1.0) throughout his first 21 appearances in 2024-25.
“I’ve been pushing myself a lot on the cardio, just trying to stay in shape,” Williams mentioned. “The way I play, it’s high volume, high maintenance. Just trying to just keep that up in the weight room, treadmill, cardio stuff, and just watching film, being dialed in on the sidelines, talking to guys, and still just finding ways to be involved without actually being in the game.”
Amongst 76 gamers defending a minimum of one isolation possession per recreation this season, minimal video games performed, Williams ranks sixth within the league in factors allowed/possession (0.65). His 56 whole deflections this season lead the crew. So, when he isn’t on the market guarding full court docket, the Nets really feel it.
“I think his raw effort and energy, it’s always been great for us,” Fernandez mentioned. “We’ve always talked about when there’s an injury, there’s an opportunity for somebody else. So, we want him back. We need him back. But, at the same time, the guys have done a great job. But yeah, his size, versatility, activity, all that energy all over the place. Deflections. He’s been great for us, and we’re excited to have him back at some point.”
Initially Revealed: December 12, 2024 at 2:33 PM EST
