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Nate Williams might be the only NBA player to appear in games on four consecutive days.
It would have been easy for Williams to have heavy legs or try to cut corners at Chase Center, having played 36 minutes for Santa Cruz on Friday, 15 more for the Warriors on Saturday, and 10 more G League minutes the next afternoon.
Not Williams. There he was — the hard-nosed southpaw — out-hustling Kawhi Leonard to track down a long rebound, creating a Pat Spencer 3.
Source: NBA.com
Williams scored 18 points in 21 minutes, shooting 5-for-8 from the field and switching onto Leonard for stretches of the game. Although the Warriors (31-30) blew a 17-point lead in a second-half collapse, Williams stepped up when Golden State needed him.
“I think Nate has played really well,” head coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “It’s been fun watching him. Young player, live body, can make a shot. He guarded Kawhi at times. Made some very impressive plays.”
“And he just had a baby. Like, right before all that. So, it’s been quite a — I don’t know if I was supposed to say…”
Golden State entered the game without Jimmy Butler, who’s out for the season. And Steph Curry, who will miss at least four more games with runner’s knee. Kristaps Porzingis missed his fifth straight game, though he watched morning shootaround at Chase Center with his teammates earlier in the day. Will Richard sprained his ankle on Saturday and Seth Curry hasn’t played since December. Gary Payton II was a late scratch and Moses Moody left the game early with wrist and shoulder injuries.
All that left nine active players by the fourth quarter, including two-way options Malevy Leons and Williams.
The latter made an impression — during the game, and afterward at the podium.
“He’s a great player, but he bleeds just like I bleed,” Williams said of his matchup with Leonard. “I don’t fear no challenge.”
Where does that mentality come from?
“I fear God,” Williams said. “And I’m from Rochester, New York. In the back streets. If you go to my neighborhood, you’d know why I’m this way.”
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Williams added that he loves how Kerr and the coaching staff has thrown him into the fire since he joined the organization. Playing four games in four days is a “blessing,” not a burden.
It wouldn’t make you a casual Warriors fan if this was the first time you’d heard Williams’ name. The organization signed him to a two-way deal over the All-Star break, filling the vacated spot left by Spencer’s conversion to a standard contract. He had played 47 NBA games after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Buffalo by way of Prolific Prep in Napa.
He shoots left-handed, his given name is Jeenathan Williams Jr., and he was once the highest-rated recruit in Buffalo Bulls history.
He played for the Blazers and Rockets, plus their G League affiliates, and has been waived four times.
Now he’s a Warrior, making a case for the vacant 15th roster spot.
Hitting open corner 3s, like he did against the Clippers, will help him in that respect.
Source: NBA.com
Williams’ mechanics look sound, with a high release point and follow-through. On this one, his first of the night, he added a celebratory skip.
“Just impressed with his defensive ability, picking up, really making his presence felt there,” Al Horford said. “Then on offense, relentless going to the offensive glass. He’s knocking down open 3s, which is important. He has size to him, so he’s a guy that I feel like he knows who he is and that’s always a good thing, because you can use guys like that to bring that energy and bring that toughness to our group.”
Williams found out the Warriors signed him on Valentine’s Day when he was chilling with his fiancée. Days later, on Feb. 24, they welcomed their first child. (opens in new tab)
Then he started cooking for the Sea Dubs. In his first two games, he scored a total of 55 points. Santa Cruz head coach Lainn Wilson, who has called him a “dog,” played Williams just 10 minutes in Sunday’s game out of precaution.
Williams scored 10 points in that 10-minute opportunity. Then came his 18-point showcase against the Clippers.
“I just go out there and play my game,” Williams said. “I let the chips fall where they fall. God already planted the seed, I’m just doing the work.”
At least as long as the Warriors’ injury report has more characters than a tweet, Williams will let more chips fall.
If he continues to play like he did on Monday night, he’ll get more chances regardless of his teammates’ health.