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The Los Angeles Lakers are not lacking for offensive firepower throughout their perimeter rotation. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are among the NBA’s foremost backcourts overall, especially offensively. Collin Sexton is a dynamite scorer off the bench. Quentin Grimes is a valuable floor-spacer who capably attacks closeouts.
To compete for home-court advantage and a top-four seed out West, though, they must prove they can competently defend on the perimeter. That is not a strength for Dončić, Reaves or Sexton. Grimes’ on-ball defense has ebbed and flowed throughout his career. Reinforcements in that department must arise elsewhere for Los Angeles to properly complement what should be a potent offensive unit led by Dončić and Reaves.
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Enter Ziaire Williams, whom the Lakers inked to a one-year, $2.8 million deal earlier this summer. During a recent interview with Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register, Williams laid out the role Lakers head coach JJ Redick and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka envision for him. Their priority, according to initial conversations he’s had with them, centers on “first and foremost, being a main defender, point-of-attack defender.”
Thus far in his career, Williams has shown some standout lateral agility and ability to navigate screens effectively. But he’ll need to find consistency on offense to amplify his defensive flashes.
Throughout his first five NBA seasons, he’s largely struggled as a shot-maker. He’s knocked down 42.2% of his field goals, including 32.2% beyond the arc, which compose more than half (55.4%) of his total attempts. He has, however, flashed keen off-ball movement, converted a career-high 34.3% of his triples last season and is a career 54.6% shooter inside the arc. He’s hoping all of those skills fit seamlessly alongside the Lakers’ primary creators.
“Obviously Luka (Doncic) and AR (Austin Reaves) are going to be the main primary ball handlers,” Williams told Royer. “So just playing off them, being able to shoot, cut, make plays in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was a great fit for me to be here, and the feeling was…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ziaire-williams-says-jj-redick-173920299.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-09 17:39:00
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