Name: Terrence Williams
Position: SG-SF
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 220 lbs.
Birth Date: June 28, 1987
Birth Place: Seattle, WA
Number: 1
Drafted: 11th pick of the 1st Round in 2009 by the New Jersey Nets
Contract: $2,214,480
On Offense:
To put it bluntly there is not much that Terrence Williams can’t do on the offensive side of the floor. He is one of those guys that brings a lot to the table and as long as he can play under control, he should have a great future ahead of him. In just 22 minutes per game last season, T-Will averaged 8.4 points and 2.9 assists per game. If you project those numbers over 30-35 minutes per game instead of 22, you will have a very productive player on your team. One of the best things about Williams is his versatility. He’s 6’6” but can handle the ball like a point guard and his athleticism is through the roof. Last season he showed Nets fans plenty of highlight dunks and there will only be more to come this year.
The most positive thing I’ve seen from Williams in the preseason is his improved shooting stroke. He clearly put in a lot of work over the summer and I think it will pay off this season. The only thing that T-Will needs to be careful of is overshooting and not distributing the ball. He’s averaged over 13 points per game in the preseason but has done so while taking a lot field goal attempts. Williams has all the offensive talent in the world to score, rebound and dish the ball, and as long as he limits his turnovers and plays unselfishly he should be a major offensive force for this team.
On Defense:
Say what you want about Rod Thorn and his abrupt decision to leave the Nets, but the guy can evaluate talent. When the team drafted Williams in 2009 one of the main things they liked about his game was his defense. After playing in the Big East for four years at Louisville, T-Will got the reputation as one of the better defensive players in the conference. With his size and athleticism he can body up bigger players while also having the quickness to stay in front of them. He did not make a huge impact on the defensive end in his rookie season but I expect that to change in 2010-11. With a player like Williams defense comes down to effort. If he puts as much effort into his defense as he has with his shooting stroke, he could be the defensive stopper that the Nets will desperately need.
Miscellaneous:
T-Will changed his number from 8 to 1 this season. In college he said he wore number 1 because he “wants to be the ONE.” He is a bit of a shoe junkie, as he owned over 130 pairs of sneakers at the University of Louisville, and has plenty more now. Williams’ updates his twitter account, TheRealTWill, on a daily basis and has almost 25,000 followers.
Comment:
Terrence Williams should be ready for a breakout season in 2010-11. He showed signs of greatness last season and should see a lot more playing time this year. While he won’t begin the year in the starting lineup, I would not be surprised at all if he cracks the starting 5 by the middle of the season. The biggest concern for T-Will is going to be playing in control on the offensive end. Turnovers have been a problem for him at times and he needs to make sure he has good shot selection and doesn’t force it. It may be a bit bold but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Williams contend for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award this season.
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