Jason Kidd reveals how Dallas’ surprise quarterback is ‘turning it around’

The Dallas Mavericks have shifted their focus to the future after parting ways with Anthony Davis. With Kyrie Irving is out for the seasonseveral guards are auditioning for long-term roles on the team. Brandon Williams is in the groupand he makes the most of his opportunity.

Williams continued his shutout streak during Tuesday’s 123-114 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The 26-year-old recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and 10 assists on 9-of-11 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench. It was the third time in his last four games that he had at least 15 points and seven assists.

“I think you can see he’s turned a corner on being able to play for others,” Jason Kidd he said of Williams’ recent performance. “Using his speed to get into the paint and not always looking for a goal, but making plays for others. And he did that tonight. I think that was a carryover from Sunday’s game. He made some great shots for us. I thought he played pretty good defense, too. . . . But I think you can see he’s starting to get comfortable leading the team.”

The Mavericks signed Williams to a standard contract before this season after spending the last two on a two-way deal. The 6-foot-1 general was a bright spot amid the expanded opportunity.

Brandon Williams is turning heads during an extended opportunity with the Mavericks

Williams is on average 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 56.9 percent shooting in the last 21 appearances. The Mavericks were 6.4 points better per 100 possessions with him on the court than off this season, the team’s best mark among players who played over 600 minutes, according to CleaningTheGlass.

“I’ve been working a lot on my game. You credit it to the people behind the scenes. (Keith) Venney and Drew (Anthrop), all those guys made sure I was ready, and so was Phil (Handy),” Williams said after Tuesday’s win. “I do whatever it takes. And offensively and even defensively, I’m just clumsy on that end. But offensively, I just take what the defense gives. Leaning a lot on, obviously everybody knows about Kyrie, but (the other) floor setters for our team, Ryan (Nembhardt) and I on the team (Jonis) always look at what they see to ask them what they see and put it into my game, ultimately.

Williams is fighting for a long-term role in a crowded point guard rotation that includes Irving, Nembhard and Jones. The Mavericks will face a point guard decision in unrestricted free agency this summer.