In this press‑conference interview, Mavericks guard Brandon Williams discusses his transition into the team’s new, faster-paced offense, reflecting on how he’s "picked up where he left off" and is adapting his pace to a more team‑oriented style. He explains the importance of the "next‑man‑up" mentality after last season’s setbacks, which gave him essential minutes and helped him understand game flow when he’s on the floor. Williams addresses his lingering left hamstring issue, noting he is treating it day‑to‑day and hopes to be available for the upcoming preseason game. He highlights mentorship from Kyrie Irving, describing Kyrie as a "big brother" who teaches him both on‑court skills and off‑court life lessons. When asked about personal objectives, Williams says he is focused on daily improvement rather than specific targets. Analyzing the recent preseason matchup, he praises the new offense and the team’s defensive execution, while noting areas for improvement in offensive and defensive rebounding. He expresses confidence that the Mavericks can become a top‑three defensive unit, citing the contributions of rookie Cooper and veteran D'Angelo Russell, whose experience and composure add valuable perspective to the point‑guard position.
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The way the season ended for you last season?
Kind of just picked up where I left off, gelling with the new guys that we have, trying to get used to this new offense, and ultimately just using my pace.
What do you like about the new offense?
Probably just how we can just play more faster. It's not just— I know you guys probably heard the term, just everybody just playing one-on-one or something like that. So we're kind of just fading away from that and just playing more of a team ball.
The setbacks that you guys had last year, Coach Kidd always said next man up mentality. So how pivotal was that for you, you know, to get those reps out on the floor and to have really essential minutes on the floor?
It was good. I mean, next man up mentality was my whole thing last year. Unfortunately, guys went out, and so I had to step in in the midst of a season. So it just shows the work that I did behind the scenes and the people that are around me.
Were there any specific things from your game that you were able to work on, you know, kind of being in those endgame scenarios and in clutch minutes and things like that?
A lot of things, a lot of things on the court, but I think the most important thing was off the court, seeing where guys like the ball, where they don't when I wasn't playing. So when I do play and get on the floor, it'll be a lot easier.
I know you've been dealing with a little bit of hamstring injury here in training camp. Just curious, which hamstring was it? How'd it happen? And then do you expect to be available for Saturday's preseason game?
Uh, yeah, it's my left hamstring, and I'm just playing it day to day.
Any mentor that you kind of connected with this summer to just work on a little bit of your game?
Uh, yeah, Kyrie.
Kyrie? What's your relationship like with him?
Um, he's a bigger brother, mentor, uh, teammate. I got to learn a lot from him. Um, obviously on the court, we all know what he's capable of and what he can teach, but I'm really more so off the court and what he can bring and how he's a good father and all that type of stuff. That's what kind of things I pick up on.
I know about your team goals. You set any individual goals for yourself?
Yeah, I haven't really got to that. I'm still just trying to focus on trying to get better every day, working on my game. And like I said, trying to learn this new offense.
So yeah.
Based on Monday's preseason game, what were some of your takeaways?
What did you saw? I like the new offense. I like how guys are running. There's a lot of talking. I think we could be better offensive rebounding, crashing, and even defensively rebounding and stuff. But there was this point in the game where defensively we just looked like top defense, you know what I mean, in the league. So it's just kind of just getting that on film, just watching it like days like today, we can go a long way.
Yeah, you talked about that after the game, you know, you guys feel like you could be like literally the number 1 defense, you know, top 3 at worst. Is that Is that kind of how you view the ceiling of this team defensively?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't know about them, but I see it in practice, you know what I mean? Just for me as a point guard coming off of screens and dudes is big out there and moving and flying around and it's good. And you just add Cooper in the mix of that too. So it's just like, it's going to be nice.
It'll take a couple more.
Yeah.
You mentioned Cooper. He got that weak side block at the beginning of the game. Just what was your takeaways from that play and what you've seen from overall in camp?
I wasn't surprised about that play, honestly. We've seen it probably 50 times before that. So, uh, just about him just being able to show you guys and, um, prove not only to everybody, but prove himself that he belongs.
What have you seen from D'Angelo and what does he add to this team?
Um, I mean, D'Angelo been in the league for a while. He's a vet. Uh, he came, came in with a, um, uh, a maturity about him. Uh, he's composed and he can show me a lot just in terms of the point guard position, what to see. Seen a lot of coverages over the last couple of years that I haven't. So, Whatever I can pick up from not only him, but all the point guards.
