“No Way I Was Missing This Game”: Brandon Williams Shines in Mavericks’ Play-In Win Over Kings

Brandon Williams refused to sit out. The Dallas Mavericks guard, who suffered a left oblique strain in the regular-season finale, made his intent clear in a text to head coach Jason Kidd before Wednesday’s play-in game against the Sacramento Kings.

“There was no way that he was going to miss this game,” Kidd said.

Williams delivered. The 6-foot-1 guard poured in 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, in just 18 minutes off the bench. He added five assists and finished a game-high plus-24 in the Mavericks’ 120-106 win.

“Ultimately, I was ready,” Williams said. “The medical staff, training staff and everybody that played a good part. And then my teammates lifted me up, hooking me up. So, it was just up to me to come out here and just play my all.”

Anthony Davis called Williams a “warrior” and a vital part of Dallas’ postseason effort.

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“There was a little skepticism in whether he was going to play or not,” Davis said. “But he obviously didn’t want to go home. He played his (rear end) off.”

The Mavericks converted Williams’ two-way deal into a standard NBA contract on April 10. He’s averaged 8.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 33 games this season while shooting 52.1% from the field and 40.0% from three.

“I’d probably just say my all-around game—everything—but mostly my confidence,” Williams told RG. “Just coming in and being more comfortable each and every game. And dealing with the guys, especially ones that are coming back too. All that’s kind of helped my game.”

The confidence was on full display against the Kings. Klay Thompson, who scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-7 from deep, praised Williams’ growth.

“Oh, my goodness! B-Will? I can’t say enough good things about him,” Thompson said. “To go from being a two-way player to making an impact in the play-in—it’s a testament to his hard work and his character. He’s got a really bright future in this league.”

P.J. Washington echoed those sentiments, adding that he’s known Williams since high school and saw his potential early.

“He was always a talented player, and he had a great summer,” Washington said. “I knew at some point this year he was going to come in and be himself. I’m proud of him.”

Kidd called Williams a difference-maker.

“His speed, his ability to play-make, but also he’s able to score,” Kidd said. “He made some big threes, but also he’s able to handle and find the open guys. I thought he did that at a high level.”

Williams has leaned on the Mavericks’ development staff all season and praised assistant coaches like Riley Crean, Corey Wheeler, God Shammgod, and Keith Vaney.

Williams also credits Kidd for being a consistent resource to ask questions.

“It’s good. I try to be a sponge every day when I come in and ask him small questions,” Williams told RG. “He always says there’s no wrong or dumb questions around here. And like you said, he’s a Hall of Famer, so it wouldn’t be too smart of me not to take something from him.”

With one of his favorite players to learn from as a teammate in Kyrie Irving, Williams has taken everything he can to implement into his own game, particularly finishing. He’s confident he can break down any defender to get to the rim. His focus is on maximizing his ability to read the whole defense to make the right play.

“I’d probably just say just getting downhill. I’m trusting my work,” Williams told RG. “I mean, I know I can get by probably anybody in the league. So it’s that next line of defense that I’m working on. Reading that next guy. You know, it’s not always gonna be to score or to look for my shot, it’s gonna be to look for my teammates, especially, like I said, with these guys coming back.”

From starting the season with the G League’s Texas Legends to stepping up when Irving went down, Williams has taken the long road to playoff relevance. He called the journey “a good development piece,” adding: “This season started in Frisco.”

Against the Kings, the Mavericks’ dominant second quarter—a 44-19 blitz—flipped the game. Dallas shot 15-of-22 from the field and 8-of-11 from three in the quarter, with 12 assists and six steals.

With more playoff challenges ahead, Williams is locked in.

“You know what’s at stake. Obviously I’ve never been here before, but a lot of guys on this team have,” Williams said. “And just taking it day by day.”