On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Amari Williams played a sizeable role in the Boston Celtics‘ win over the Detroit Pistons. Williams, the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has spent most of the season with the Maine Celtics in the G League.
The Kentucky product signed a two-way contract with the Celtics during the summer. However, with Neemias Queta‘s ankle injury, Williams was afforded an opportunity to impress. He grasped that opportunity with some stellar production.
When speaking to the media after Boston’s 10th win of the season, Jaylen Brown shared some glowing praise for the big man out of Nottingham, England.
“He looked great. He was battling on the boards. He gave us that physicality that we needed down there,” Brown said. “A big body like Amari makes a big difference…That was impressive from Amari, I’m not gonna lie. He hasn’t been with us. A lot of pressure, high-profile game. To come in and make an impact, credit to him, but he did well for us. Amari has talent. He can pass the ball. He’s a big guy. He knows the game. That was a big-time performance from him.”
Williams showcased his skills as he played some solid defense, especially when offering rim protection from the weak side.
There’s Still More To Come From Amari Williams
Despite his impressive showing, there is still more to come from Williams. His biggest skill is his passing. Running him in actions at the top of the perimeter, or as a dribble hand-off hub on the wings, could help unlock the Celtics’ half-court offense.
Furthermore, Boston has been short on viable passers out of the short-roll this season. Both Al Horford and Luke Kornet filled that slot in previous years. Williams’ processing speed, screening skill, and ability to make high-level passes make him an ideal fit to be a short-roll weapon moving forward.
Of course, Williams’ opportunities are limited. Once Queta returns to the rotation, he will likely be sent back to Maine. As such, it’s fair to hope he’s given an opportunity to shine as a creator in the coming games.
Celtics’ Derrick White Also Impressed
Williams wasn’t the only player to impress during the Celtics’ win over Detroit. Derrick White snapped out of his early-season slump to end the night with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.
During his postgame news conference, Pistons’ head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had some praise for the Celtics guard.
“He’s a champion for a reason,” Bickerstaff said. “And in games like this, guys like that understand what they need to do to help their team win. And he did it.”
White has stepped into a larger role this season. He leads the Celtics in touches per game and is clearly the primary on-ball creator. As such, he’s been working through an adjustment period.
However, if Wednesday’s performance was anything to go by, the White is starting to figure things out and could emerge as a serious weapon for Joe Mazzulla’s roster in the weeks and months ahead.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Sends Message On “Big-Time Performance” From Amari Williams appeared first on Heavy Sports.