Ziaire Williams seems to have the opportunity to make his mark on a new-look Los Angeles Lakers roster this coming season. The 6-foot-9 forward is known as a strong defender who has ample athleticism and can finish strong in transition, and he has shown signs of improving his outside shooting over the last couple of seasons.
He spent the last two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, a team that isn’t exactly going anywhere anytime soon. When he became a free agent this summer, he saw “a great opportunity” with the Purple and Gold
“I just thought it was a great opportunity,” Williams said of why he chose to sign with the Lakers after averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game for the Brooklyn Nets last season. “Being that big wing, versatile player that they needed, I just thought it was a great opportunity for me to be a Laker. Even if the same team was in New Orleans or Milwaukee, wherever – just the opportunity that was here and the team that they had, I just thought it was the best fit. And then just being back home in L.A. is the cherry on top. Being able to play in front of my family and my friends, and I’m super excited.”
Williams was born in Lancaster, which is located in the Antelope Valley about an hour north of downtown Los Angeles, and he attended high school in the San Fernando Valley, first at Notre Dame High School and then at Sierra Canyon School. When it comes to returning to the Southland, he said, “It’s all full circle.”
The Lakers don’t have a true starting-caliber forward or wing, and there is a chance that Williams could fill that role, especially if he improves enough offensively. He shot 34.3% from 3-point range last season and 34.1% from that distance during the 2024-25 campaign, and the team needs plenty of 3-point shooting to open up the floor for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire:Ziaire Williams feels Lakers were the ‘best fit’ for him
Source: sports.yahoo.com
