Ziaire Williams has been one of the few Nets who’s made the last few weeks feel like they’re about something other than the standings. He’s been efficient, disruptive and increasingly comfortable in a bigger offensive role, even as Brooklyn’s season has slid deeper into the evaluation portion of the calendar.
Entering Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Williams had averaged 17.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.8 steals over his last five games while shooting 52.8% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. It’s the sharpest stretch he’s put together all season, and it’s come with a clear idea behind it.
“I’m just trying to expand my game, not force anything,” Williams said. “Just provide energy, get some steals and deflections and just have fun.”
Nets head coach Jordi Fernández has leaned into the same theme when he’s talked about Williams recently. He’s praised the production, but he’s focused more on the way Williams has handled the moment. More responsibility. More eyes. More pressure to be steady while lineups churn around him.
“Yeah, he’s playing well and I’m extremely proud of him, how he’s embracing every single situation and opportunity, how big of a pro he has been and how supportive he’s been with his teammates,” Fernández said. “And I think that’s been great to see, not just because he’s scoring more or less. Obviously, I’ve been running more plays for him because it’s also good to see what he can do in those situations.”
The Nets aren’t just letting Williams cook. They’re testing him. They’re giving him second-side actions, putting him in pick-and-roll, asking him to make quick decisions with the ball and then live with the results. Fernández said he still wants Williams living in the areas where he’s at his best, decisive catch-and-shoot 3s, straight-line drives, simple reads and then the defensive work that changes the game’s tone.
“I think still the way he shines is when he is very aggressive defensively and then he keeps it simple offensively,” Fernández said. “Putting the ball in his hands, I think it’s good. … I still want to see him being decisive, shooting catch-and-shoot 3s, getting to the rim, but then his superpower … guard the best player on the court, be disruptive, get deflections, all of those things that gave the team energy. And I think that’s when Z is at his best.”
Williams has a team option for $6.2 million next season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027-28, which makes this late-season burst matter even on a team out of the postseason picture. The 24-year-old had played in one of Brooklyn’s last 10 fourth quarters entering Sunday, and he hasn’t played in any of the past five. He’s been productive enough that his minutes can complicate the Nets’ late-season slide.
So, even with the team option looming, this isn’t just about points. It’s about habits and buy-in, whether Williams stays connected defensively, keeps the reads simple and shows the same professionalism regardless of role. That, more than any one hot stretch, is what the Nets have been tracking as the season winds down.
“Like I said, he’s taken advantage of all those opportunities,” Fernández said. “He’s embraced what we’re doing and the process, which is the best thing, right? … I’m happy with him and I’ve seen what I had to see.”