Mavericks' young stud is making it clear he doesn't deserve to play second fiddle

Since joining the Dallas Mavericks, Brandon Williams has been fighting an uphill battle when it comes to getting a roster spot in the NBA. Before signing with the Mavs in the 2023-24 NBA season, Williams bounced between the Portland Trail Blazers' G League squad as well as their two-way unit until he signed on a two-way deal with the Mavericks later that season.

Alongside Kyrie Irving, Williams was able to unleash a new facet of his game, and in Dallas, he appeared to unlock the true meaning of what it means to be a professional. Very early in the season, it was clear that Williams was one of the better two-way players in the league, and it wouldn't take long for him to get a chance at the full rotation due to numerous injuries to star players.

While injuries are never a highlight in any professional sport, Williams was able to prove to fans and the coaching staff that he had what it took to be a playoff-caliber player in the Mavericks' rotation. With this in mind, Williams was signed to Dallas' final standard roster spot just a few days before the play-in games would tip off, with the thought that he might be a solid backup guard; however, Williams is quickly proving he deserves more than just to play second fiddle in the Mavericks' offense.

Williams is proving he deserves a bigger role through offseason workouts

It's no surprise that players are already getting on top of offseason workouts and beginning to focus on their bodies ahead of training camp, but Williams has clearly hit a different level of intensity in one of his latest Instagram posts.

Williams can be seen hitting multiple types of lateral sync workouts, which makes complete sense considering he is a player who focuses plenty on getting the defenses to shift their weight extremely quickly due to his stop-and-cut abilities. This is one of the reasons he has drawn plenty of comparisons to Irving throughout last season, and he may be the perfect archetype of a player the Mavericks will need next season.

Williams proved last season that he is one of the better players in the league who can get a defense on their back heels extremely quickly, as he can speed past multiple defenders to threaten a shot at the basket. While Williams may not get an open shot at the basket every time and can even get himself in some awkward situations, he is still a developing player and is already proving he can be one of the quicker guards with the ball in his hands throughout the entire league.

Heading into next season, the Mavericks will have a gaping hole at the guard position, and Williams could be in a prime position to take another leap in the Mavericks' rotation. The Mavericks currently lack a reliable guard who can score off the bench and bunches, and Williams has already proven that he can be that type of player for the Mavericks.

It's gonna be hard to call Williams a starting caliber player at the beginning of the regular season, but if injuries persist the way they did last year, he could have a perfect opportunity to prove to Jason Kidd he can be trusted in the starting five. The Mavericks are begging for a player to come off their bench and dictate the pace of the offense, even while Cooper Flagg is expected to take a bulk of the offensive load.

Williams will have his best opportunity yet at proving he belongs in the league and on a multi-year contract, and assuming he can take advantage of the bigger spotlight, the Mavericks could be committed to making him a long-term asset for the future.