The NBA is chock full of outstanding young point guards, but none may be more impressive than the Brooklyn Nets’ Deron Williams.
Williams is unquestionably one of the best all-around talents in the league, featuring a transcendent ability as a scorer and distributor on the court. His presence alone makes the Nets a better team, as evidenced by their improved record last season in comparison to the previous two seasons without him on the roster (Williams played in just 12 games for the Nets during the 2010-2011 season).
In a poll presented by the NBA’s general managers recently, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul was selected as the top point guard in the league. Just two seasons ago, Williams garnered the honor as a member of the Utah Jazz, but he did not earn a vote this time around.
“It’s easy to forget about people when they’re on losing teams that aren’t really relevant and aren’t on TV,” Williams said, according to the New York Daily News’ Kristie Ackert. “I didn’t have a great year statistically, so that will hurt, too.”
While Williams’ statistical failure may be up for dispute (he averaged 21 points and 8.7 assists per game in 55 games), the Nets’ point guard will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his repertoire as an elite NBA point guard this season with the spotlight shining brightly on the rebranded Brooklyn franchise.
Williams now has a cast of talented teammates, the caliber of which he has yet to have in his career. This should enable him to put all of his unparalleled skills at the forefront.
Mike Fratello, a former NBA coach and an analyst on TNT and YES Network, couldn’t help but praise those skills.
“We’re talking about an elite player,” Fratello said during an interview for NBA.com with Vince Cellini earlier this month (h/t NetsDaily). “He’s got size, he’s got strength. He can shoot the ball with range. He can post up. He can pick and roll and he’s great in transition. I don’t know much more you want. Oh by the way he does play defense. He can get down at the other end of the floor and stop other point guards. So you’ve got the total package.”
Such recognition from a man nicknamed “The Czar” should be humbling for Williams, who would prefer to focus on winning rather than his place amongst the league’s premier floor generals. At 28, Williams is past the point of prioritizing individual accomplishments before team victories, but that does not mean it isn’t pushing him to be better than he’s ever been before.
“Everything motivates me,” Williams told Ackert.
That’s a scary thought for those opposing the three-time All-Star. Even with all that he has accomplished, Williams is just now entering the prime of his career and his greatest opportunity for success. Should he build on his achievements and eliminate his turnover troubles from last season, there is no reason to believe Williams won’t cement his place — not just as an elite point guard — as the very best in the game today.
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network covering the NBA and NFL. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.