Jordi Fernandez challenges the young man with harsh truths after the bench

Ziaire Williams has been very successful entering the 2025-2026 campaign. After turning in a career-best season following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, Williams signed a two-year contract for $12 million this summer. However, a rough start to the season has raised questions about his future with the team.

Williams failed to repeat his production from a year ago through 14 appearances. Offensively, the fifth-year forward is shooting just 38.1 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from three. Defensively, he provided little resistance at the point of attack for a stalwart Nets team.

Those fights culminated in Jordi Fernandez removes Williams from Brooklyn’s rotation during Monday’s game with the New York Knicks.

“It was just my decision. I wanted to challenge him with his defense,” Fernandez said of Williams’ bench. “Last year he was elite in a lot of things that we care about (about) defensively, from ball pressure to rebounding to defense to defensive isolations. He was huge (there) and I didn’t feel that energy (this year). I can run through the numbers and they weren’t there. So I challenge him to do that. I wasn’t happy with everything the last two games.

“It’s not about me being right or wrong. It’s just about giving someone else a chance to refocus, to be ready for the next opportunity. And when it comes, just take it and stick with it and be the best defender on the team and one of the best in the NBA, which I believe he’s more than capable of doing.”

Jordy Fernandez on why he took Zaire Williams out of the rotation tonight:

“I wanted to challenge him with his defense. Last year he was elite with a lot of things that we want. . . . This year, I didn’t feel that energy. . . . The numbers aren’t there. I wasn’t very happy. . . . pic.twitter.com/k48kIkKSPz6

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) November 25, 2025

Williams’ benching came after he turned in his worst performances of the season in Brooklyn’s previous two games.

Zaire Williams has been removed from the Nets’ rotation due to struggles

The 24-year-old scored eight points on 2-of-8 shooting with zero assists and three turnovers in 44 minutes losses to the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. Fernandez replaced Williams with Jaylen Wilson in Brooklyn’s rotation during Monday’s 113-100 loss to the Knicks.

“I just gave a chance to Jay Will, who was always ready. Whether I played with him more or less, he was always there for his teammates,” the coach said.

Wilson struggled to capitalize on the opportunity, scoring six points on 2-of-7 shooting with one assist and two turnovers in 23 minutes. The 2023 second-round pick is having the best outside shooting season of his career, hitting 38.6 percent from three. However, he shot just 35 percent on two-pointers and struggled defensively, posting a team-worst -13.7 net rating, according to CleaningTheGlass.

Williams should re-enter the Nets’ rotation in the coming games. The former lottery pick will have the rest of the season to prove his worth to the team’s front office. Brooklyn will face a decision on Williams this summer, as he has a $6.25 million team option for next season.