The Los Angeles Lakers may have found another young piece to build around for the Luka Doncic era. Ziaire Williams made his Lakers preseason debut Monday night and wasted little time showing why he could become a key piece in the franchise’s future. Williams started in Los Angeles’ 127-103 preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings and finished with 13 points while shooting 4-of-6 from the field.
The 25-year-old was perfect on all three of his attempts from beyond the arc and added a steal in just over 20 minutes. It was only one preseason game, but Williams showed flashes of exactly what the Lakers have been looking for since Doncic’s arrival. At 6-foot-9 with length and athleticism, Williams gives Los Angeles a versatile defender capable of taking difficult assignments on the perimeter.
Against Sacramento, the Lakers trusted him to defend the ball while Doncic handled much of the offensive responsibility. Williams showed his impact can extend far beyond the defensive end. His ability to knock down open shots could determine just how valuable he becomes alongside Doncic.
Williams is coming off a career year as a shooter, connecting on 34.3% of his 3-point attempts with the Brooklyn Nets last season. His three makes Monday offered an encouraging glimpse of what could happen if that number continues to improve. Playing alongside creators like Doncic and Austin Reaves, Williams should get the spacing and open looks that knockdown shooters covet.
On the Lakers, Williams won’t be expected to consistently creates his own offense. With Doncic and Reaves handling the bulk of that responsibility, Williams can focus on defending, running the floor, cutting and converting the open looks created by Los Angeles’ stars. Williams has already acknowledged that fit.
Despite already having five NBA seasons under his belt, Williams just turned 25 in September. The former No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is still young enough to develop alongside Doncic, who is 27, rather than simply serving as another short-term veteran addition. Williams also enters Los Angeles looking noticeably different from the player who began his NBA career.
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