Brandon WilliamsGuard, Golden State Warriors

Brandon Williams full press conference | 2024-25 Dallas Mavericks Media Day

1 Oct 2024 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

3:13

In a relaxed press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Media Day, Brandon Williams discusses his offseason experiences, personal mindset, and the team's upcoming goals. He shares that his most enjoyable non‑basketball moment was a weekend trip to Turks and Caicos with his agent, describing it as a needed first vacation abroad. Williams frames this period of his life as a "learning experience," emphasizing his role as a sponge who absorbs lessons from both veteran and younger teammates. When asked about the Mavericks' objectives, he stresses the importance of maintaining defensive intensity, referencing the February trade that added PJ and Gaff, and highlights the coaching emphasis on ball pressure and defensive rotations. Regarding new teammate Klay Thompson, Williams notes Thompson’s shooting reputation, footwork, and ability to create open shots, predicting a significant offensive impact while also acknowledging defensive contributions. Finally, he comments on the coaching style of the team's point guard (referred to as "Jayson"), noting its difference from his Portland experience, the influence of Hall‑Fame point guards, and the concept of "mental warfare" that he aims to learn from. Throughout, Williams conveys optimism, a growth mindset, and a commitment to team defense.

Questions this video answers

My first time out of the country – a weekend trip to Turks and Caicos with my agent.

A learning experience – being a sponge and absorbing lessons from older and younger guys.

Pick up where we left off, keep defensive intensity up, and rely on the defensive mindset instilled after the February trade for PJ and Gaff.

He brings shooting, footwork, and the ability to create open shots for teammates, and he will also contribute defensively.

His coaching style is different from what I’m used to in Portland; it reflects Hall‑Fame point guard influence and emphasizes mental warfare.

Chapters

Good morning. I'm good. How you doing?
I'm doing well. Now, you know, normally we do it a little bit unorthodox. It's the Real Talk Sports, but, you know, we'll keep it cute. Um, since we're jumping out with the first one, just talk to me about what was the most enjoying part of your summer, non-basketball related?
The most what part?
The most enjoying part of your summer, non-basketball related.
I'd probably say it was my first time out the country. Uh, I'm not counting Toronto and, uh, and Mexico right here, but I went to Turks and Caicos. So that was pretty fire. Um, I went with my agent, so it was a good little vibe and a good time to get away. We didn't go away for too long. You know, I was there for just a weekend and it was right back to work, but it was kind of good. My first little vacation, if you want to call it, but, um, it was definitely needed. Definitely needed.
And then my next one, again, Real Talk Sports, we keep it a little bit fun, but, um, If you could title this chapter of your life, what would you title it?
I'll just say it's a learning experience. So no matter what it is, trying to be a sponge in whatever situation I'm in, learning from older guys, younger guys, doesn't really matter. Just like I just said, being a sponge and then taking what that is and then kind of putting my own little formula and cherry on top of that and just kind of form where I am. So, yeah, thank you.
Dwayne Price, Mavs.com. Brandon, what is it that you guys have to do to pick up where you left off last season but get those last 3 wins?
I'll say just like you said, just pick up where we left off, keeping that defensive intensity up. I think that when we made that trade in February, we acquired PJ and Gaff. I think everybody kind of saw that notch kind of got turned, and it started with defense. On the defensive side, you know, Coach K is always telling us to Harp on the ball and people on the backside will have your back like D-Live and Gaff. So for us, just as guards, just be most intense and bring as much pressure as we can to other guards. And we know our defensive rotation will be all right.
Where do you see Klay Thompson fitting in with this team? And what can he add not only on the offensive end but the defensive end?
Yeah, I mean, he has a lot to prove himself in terms of being written off and whatever media was saying. for him last year. So just coming into this year, I mean, we already seen it in pickups that we played, you know what I mean? The guy can slide his feet. The guy can— obviously, we know he can shoot. So he brings a lot to our team. He's going to create a lot of open shots for a lot of guys just because of his attention and his name itself. So it'll be a lot. It's going to be fun to see.
Hey, I'm just curious how you would evaluate or classify Jayson's style in his game.
coaching style? It's different than what I'm used to. I was with Portland, so I'm used to Chauncey a little bit. But, I mean, they're point guards, Hall of Fame point guards. So the way they think the game's at a high time— at a high level, like I said earlier, just being a sponge of it, I'll be not that wise to not take something from them. So just coming in every day and just— I know he uses the word mental warfare all the time. So just coming in and just learning from him as much as I can.