Brandon Williams' Mavericks breakout has somehow gone unnoticed in free agency

Within four years, Brandon Williams went from his NBA career effectively being over to averaging 13.0 points per game and making 15 starts for the Dallas Mavericks last season. From going undrafted to becoming a nightly contributor, it's been an unlikely but promising ascent for Williams. Yet, despite the 26-year-old enjoying the best season of his professional career, he remains unsigned nearly a month into free agency, with his breakout seemingly flying under the radar.

Brandon Williams went from NBA afterthought to unlikely contributor

After enjoying a solid yet unspectacular freshman season at Arizona, Williams underwent surgery to correct osteochondritis dissecans, a knee condition that sidelined him for his entire sophomore season. The setback ultimately prompted him to leave school and pursue a professional career.

From there, Williams joined the G League’s Westchester Knicks and impressed during his rookie season, eventually earning a call-up to the Portland Trail Blazers. He showed flashes there as well, averaging 12.9 points across 24 appearances, though he shot just 37.2 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Following his rookie campaign, the Trail Blazers opted not to retain Williams on a two-way contract, sending him back to the G League. For a 6-foot-1 guard who had finally broken through at the NBA level, another stint in the G League didn't bode well for his long-term career prospects.

Nonetheless, that didn't deter Williams. He continued to excel, eventually earning a two-way contract with the Mavericks in 2023, and only built on that success, culminating in his breakout 2025-26 season.

Aside from averaging a career-high 13.0 points per game, Williams contributed 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.9 steals while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and getting to the free-throw line 4.6 times per game. Williams' sky-high free-throw rate ranked 10th in the league among qualified players.

Why Williams' free agency has been surprisingly quiet

Still, despite an impressive all-around season, Williams remains unsigned, and it doesn't appear the Mavericks will bring the 26-year-old back, even after a campaign in which he was arguably one of Dallas' five most impactful players. He ranked second on the team in Value over Replacement Player (VORP) and finished fifth in Box Plus/Minus, Player Efficiency Rating (PER), and Win Shares, underscoring just how valuable he was whenever he took the floor.

But it's not just the Mavericks who have overlooked Williams… It's the rest of the league. His free agency has been nothing but crickets. You would've expected the ever-improving guard to sign relatively quickly, yet he hasn't been linked to many teams as rosters around the association continue to fill up.

Perhaps it's his inconsistent 3-point shot (a career 28.0 percent shooter) or his so-so perimeter defense, but Williams can still impact the game the moment he steps on the floor. Besides, not every player is without flaws.

Williams is, in fact, really good at what he does well. He's a terrific downhill attacker, averaging 10.8 drives per game and scoring 6.8 points per game on those attempts while shooting 51.8 percent. For comparison, his teammate Cooper Flagg shot just 49.2 percent on drives despite standing half a foot taller.

Moreover, Williams drew fouls on roughly 11.1 percent of his drives, ranking in the top 10 among all qualified players. He's fantastic at pressuring the rim and also thrived in the open court, averaging 3.5 transition points per game.

But still, despite his strengths, it's apparent his weaknesses have outweighed his breakout campaign in the eyes of teams, limiting his market in free agency. Williams enjoyed the best season of his career, and as a 26-year-old with only 140 career appearances under his belt, there's surely more to come. Yet, his career year has all but gone unnoticed.

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