OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Giare Williams played well throughout the Nets' summer opener and carried that into training camp.
Now, the Nets' latest rebuilding project followed a strong showing in Tuesday's preseason opener, a 115-106 loss to the Clippers.
“I'm trying to reinvent myself and show people that I belong in this league,” Williams said. “I just try to give it my all every day, put my heart and soul into the defense and just carry that over to the offense.
“I'm just trying to play hard. I'm a student of the game. I work hard. I'm the first in, the last out. So I trust in my work and in God, and others I just let everything flow.”
Williams, Memphis' 2021 lottery pick who was essentially acquired as a salary dump, scored 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting and three steals in 23 minutes.
His athletic open court play and cutting ability are a perfect fit for what Jordi Fernandez wants to coach and the way Ben Simmons wants to play.
“Listen, that's like my bread and butter,” Williams said. “I want to go full court, run fast, play open court, speed up the defense and speed up the other team.
“That's why I love it. I played a little fast in Memphis, so I'm happy to play fast here. Whether it's sprinting, racing with friends, or playing fast on the court, I've never been faster. I've been playing. This is definitely what I want to do the most, and I feel like that's where I can grow the most.”
The Nets played without Nick Claxton, but Jordi Fernandez said the starting center should be back by Opening Day at the latest.
“We are not worried,” Fernandez said. “It was a small problem with this hamstring and he has been working really hard.
“We're looking to start the season, but that doesn't mean he won't play in preseason games.”
Dayron Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Bojan Bogdanovic and Killian Hayes were all sidelined, with the latter going down late with a sore hip.
“Nothing major,” Fernandez said. “I'm just making sure he's okay.”
Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Clippers.
“The biggest thing for us is to do the right thing next to Kawhi and not to hurt him, rather than trying to come back early. We can't skip steps. You have to follow the process,” Tai Lu said. “We're doing everything the right way before we put him on the floor. So if he's mad at us because we protected him, so be it.”
