SALT LAKE CITY — To say it has been a rough rookie season for the Nets’ Terrence Williams would be a major understatement, like saying it has been a rough season for the Nets, period.
Williams was awarded playing time early, but eventually lost both time and favor with ill-timed, ill-conceived actions. He was late for meetings, missed a team bus, slept in through a shootaround. They were disastrous maneuvers for any player, but especially for a rookie trying to earn his place. Plus, Williams’ play raised eyebrows. Too many jumpers, too much playing for Terrence Williams and not for the Nets.
So team president Rod Thorn plus interim coach and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe sat Williams down. It was time to grow up, be professional, be a team guy, they said — minus all the sugar-coating.
“Both Kiki and I have spoken to Terrence. I think he is starting to figure it out,” Thorn said. “He is doing better. He wants to play better and he is reaching an understanding that he has to do it in practice and games. And he has been better and better. He has such a high skill package.”
And Williams apparently has a higher understanding of what is happening. The rookie said he got the message.
“I just realized that it’s about time to buy into the team concept, buy into what the coach wants and what the team needs,” Williams said.
Williams is getting another chance to contribute because Devin Harris sprained his right wrist Friday and was scratched last night here against the Jazz with no return date set. Vandeweghe said he wants to ease Williams in at point and start him out playing off the ball.
“When you sit down with the president of the team, and the president is telling you what to do because you’re not doing it right, and the head coach is telling you what you need to do to play, you do it,” said Williams, who has averaged 18.7 minutes in his last three games after a seven-game span when he had one DNP and five games of no more than six minutes. “I listened.”
Not that Williams had any choice. The brass, in addition to the mandatory “be and act professional” speech, also advised Williams to be more of a driver and penetrator and less of a jump-shooter on offense. Plus, there were not-so-subtle reminders about playing defense. By all accounts, the messages got through to the versatile wing out of Louisville.
“If they tell me to run through the wall three times, I’ll try to run through the wall four times,” Williams said. “This whole West Coast trip, there’s been more focus about playing defense and going to the hole. . . . If this is what I’m told to do, I’ll do it.”
Of all the pre-draft goodies the Nets saw in Williams, perhaps the one trait that jumped out was his versatility. The Nets saw a three-position player at both ends.
That versatility will be needed without Harris. The Nets have veteran Keyon Dooling, the scheduled starter last night, and recently-acquired Chris Quinn at point. But they also have wanted Williams to handle some point. Williams’ new mantra? Do whatever is required.
“[I want] to show I did learn from my mistakes,” Williams said. “I have to show the second half of the season that I did learn and that I’m willing and able to be a part of this team and buy into the concept with this team. So in the second half, just do to do what the coaches want.”