The s have added s to their roster this season on h for wings who’re additionally lob threats. He ended the 2025-26 season averaging 10.2 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals whereas taking pictures 42.5% from the sphere and 34.3% from past the three-point arc.
Forward of the upcoming 2026-27 season, Williams spoke to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register and mentioned a number of subjects associated to becoming a member of the Lakers.
“I simply thought it was an important alternative,” Williams d on why he selected the Lakers regardless of averaging a career-high in factors with the Nets,
“Being that massive wing, versatile participant that they wanted, I simply thought it was an important alternative for me to be a Laker. Even when the identical crew was in New Orleans or Milwaukee, wherever – simply the chance that was right here and the crew that that they had, I simply thought it was the perfect match.”
“After which simply being again house in L.A. is the cherry on prime. With the ability to play in entrance of my household and my mates, and I’m tremendous excited.”
Williams mentioned in his early conversations with okay and a, they’ve advised him that his predominant function is “in the beginning, being a predominant defender, point-of-attack defender.”
“Clearly Luka (Doncic) and AR (Austin Reaves) are going to be the principle main ball handlers,” Williams mentioned. “So simply enjoying off them, having the ability to shoot, lower, make performs in transition, stuff like that. They thought it was an important match for me to be right here, and the sensation was mutual.”
The 24-year-old Williams claimed c“has massive child vitality, like a younger, youthful spirit,” including that he may inform how a lot Doncic cared about successful video games but in addition how a lot he cares about his teammates.
“I can inform (Doncic’s) management. He desires to step up much more this 12 months,” Williams added. “I’m excited, man. I’m actually excited to play with him. And naturally, once we’re enjoying basketball, it’s simply he makes the sport simply really easy and appears so easy. He’s going to make my life lots simpler for positive.”
Ziaire Williams said that the Lakers’ rowing competitors on Lake Bled in Slovenia’s Julian Alps was the journey’s excessive level. He added that team-building actions like bowling along with his teammates and touring Slovenian castles will “translate to the court docket.”
The vast majority of the crew had the chance to play five-on-five basketball in Ljubljana, however some crew members have been in a position to get collectively throughout the summer time league in Las Vegas because the crew’s acquisitions progressively turned official throughout the offseason.
However one of many key issues that added the cherry on prime of his cake was enjoying along with his former teammate, s, on the Lakers.
“That’s my brother,” Ziaire Williams mentioned. “I’m undoubtedly grateful for that. He’s nice. He’s had an important summer time. He seems to be nice proper now. He’s given me a pair pointers and issues concerning the offense and protection that JJ likes.”
Bronny James n, and the 2 have now reunited on the Lakers. Williams claimed to have been working towards his shot and “ending on the rim” lots, and he described the exercises as a “nice” preview of the upcoming season.
“We’re going to mesh very well,” Williams mentioned close to the top of the interview. “We’ve got a bunch of fellows that may do loads of issues on the court docket. I believe we’re going to be nice, man.”
“There’s loads of motivation right here and loads of guys which are able to show and prepared, you recognize, that we’re able to enjoying on a successful stage. It was loads of good runs, and there’ll be extra to come back,” he concluded.
We’re lower than two months away from the 2026-27 season tipping off. Will probably be very fascinating to see how Ziaire Williams finds his match with the Lakers’ rotation.
