Grant Williams, the Hornets’ ball of energy
His return to the game almost went unnoticed. But it still coincides with the Hornets’ crazy current streak. Tonight against the Pelicansit was hard to miss Grant Williams.
Returning to competition three weeks ago, after a long period of recovery from a torn cruciate ligament and meniscus (right knee), the interior has been relatively discreet on a statistical level and has yet to surpass the 10-point mark.
This evening, he increased the score by giving 16 points (5/7 shooting, including 2/4 from distance) and 9 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. That’s triple his production before this game: 4.7 points (30.4% including 23.5% from distance) and 3.4 rebounds.
« Nice to see some shots being introduced. After 13 months of absence, you lose the habit; I miss not investing as much as I did in training. If anyone tells you they thought they were going to come back with 80% 3-point success and 100% shooting, they’re lying. So tonight it was great to see a few of them step in and continue to improve as they come back from injury. I felt good », does it deliver.
Impressed by Moussa Diabate
Grant Williams also said he enjoyed being involved in the “small ball” sequence for a few minutes. ” It was fun to play with them, but at the same time, we didn’t have to use them because Moussa (Diabate) and Ryan (Kalkbrenner) have been so effective and efficient for us all season. It wasn’t necessary », judges the 22nd pick of the 2019 draft.
The strong winger even insists on the Frenchman whose contribution he finds ” phenomenal » in the Hornets racket, allowing him to develop more on the perimeter where he can make his outside skills speak for themselves (37% career). ” It saved my build, maybe saved me a few kilometers, but I’m grateful for how things turned out tonight. »
Things got serious as the Hornets trailed by 22 points before turning the tide, limiting the Pelicans to just 31 points in the second half. The return of Grant Williams clearly affected the Hornets’ desire to defend.
Since the beginning of the new year, they have held their opponents below 100 points 10 times. In January, Charlotte even had the fifth best defense in the country. ” Grant continues to bring us a different level of physicality and the ability to make stops on the defensive end », notes his coach Charles Lee, emphasizing the vocal aspect in his training.
Charlotte needs to get used to winning
« I think my word is respected, but I can’t take all the credit either. The other guys were talking as much as I was. It comes from mutual encouragement. This team really cares about everyone in the locker room, and the voice raised can be different every time. But tonight was one of those matches where we had to put points on and what we had to achieve. “, describes Grant Williams.
Among the older and more experienced players in the team, the interior can appreciate. Their team is the most fit in the league with 7 straight wins, and they are now putting pressure on the Hawks and Bulls in the play-off race.
« I was part of a team in Boston where after the All-Star break, I think we won about 16 or 18 games in a row. In these cases, everyone is playing their best against you because everyone wants to end the streak. Our job is to keep fighting. How we progress as a team, to show what kind of group we want to become in the future », he stares.
Grant Williams hopes the franchise, accustomed to defeat, will find a semblance of normality there. “ It’s a little unusual because Charlotte hasn’t done this often, but we all have to keep our heads down and not worry about any kind of winning streak. We focus on the game in front of us. Having this competitive spirit in every game and facing opponents who give everything against us is exactly what you are looking for if you are a true basketball player and a true lover of the game. »
| Grant Williams | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 69 | 15:07 | 41.2 | 25.0 | 72.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.4 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 63 | 18:04 | 43.7 | 37.2 | 58.8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 4.7 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 77 | 24:21 | 47.5 | 41.1 | 90.5 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 7.8 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 79 | 25:53 | 45.4 | 39.5 | 77.0 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 8.1 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 47 | 26:26 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 74.5 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 8.1 |
| 2023-24 | CHA | 29 | 30:37 | 50.3 | 37.3 | 76.5 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 13.9 |
| 2024-25 | CHA | 16 | 29:56 | 43.9 | 36.5 | 83.8 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 10.4 |
| 2025-26 | CHA | 9 | 17:27 | 30.4 | 23.5 | 66.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-03 10:07:00
