Ziaire Williams embracing challenge to be Nets top defender

Ziaire Williams has an opportunity for a fresh start, and while he is still adjusting to a new team and new city, that doesn’t mean he’s backing down from head coach Jordi Fernandez’s challenge to be a top defender for the Nets.“Hell yeah,” Williams said about that goal Thursday, on Day 3 of Nets training camp.The 2021 No.10-overall pick spent three seasons with the Grizzlies and got lost in the roster before Memphis let Williams go in a cost-cutting move.However, he attributes his skills to those years and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins’ emphasis on defense.“I thank Taylor for the principles he taught me because coming here, I already knew a lot of stuff that they were teaching because of him, and I’m super appreciative for that,” Williams said at HSS Training Center.

“So [assistant] coach Steve [Hetzel], you know, he’s our main defensive guy.We’ve been watching a lot of film together, and he’s had a lot of good things to say.

And, of course, there’s a couple things I need to work on.So it’s been great, man.

But definitely shout out to Taylor.He helped me a lot on the defensive end for sure.”Williams, 23, is one of many players trying to fit into the Nets rebuild after a 32-50 season and the loss of Mikal Bridges in the offseason to the crosstown rival Knicks.The Nets’ last rebuilding years were from 2016-2019, and they took discarded talent under their wing and successfully developed them into new players.They saw D’Angelo Russell become an All-Star in 2018.

They turned around Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie into solid players.Now, they’re taking on the job again, and Williams, who reportedly looked solid in summer workouts, is a new target.The 6-foot-9 forward believes one of his best traits is causing “havoc” on the court.He wants to take on anyone from guard to center on defense, and offensively, he thrives on cutting opportunities, as well as on the wing for catch-and-shoot openings.Sign up for Inside t...