Mavericks youngster turns from arrested 'distraction' to unlikely savior

Through five games, the Dallas Mavericks' regular season has been filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. From losing Anthony Davis to a lower leg injury on Wednesday night's win against the Indiana Pacers, to Max Christie starting the season and emerging as one of the Mavericks' potential future starters, consistency has been hard to come by in Dallas.

With that being said, Brandon Williams looked like an absolute stud in his first real appearance for the Mavericks against the Pacers. Williams would finish his night off with a mind-boggling 20 points off the bench on uber-efficient numbers from around the floor, just days after being arrested and describing himself as a "distraction" for the team.

Not only was Williams' impact on the bench an instant jolt for Dallas' struggling offense, but his ability to attack the middle of the paint early in the shot clock resulted in plenty of open looks for other Mavericks. There's no doubt that Williams' output was warranted in a much-needed win for the team, but now Jason Kidd may have something to consider when it comes to his rotation after a Williams masterclass.

Brandon Williams instantly revived Mavericks' lifeless offense

Before playing the Pacers, the Mavericks' offensive rhythm looked inconsistent and without a true leader, as Cooper Flagg has struggled to fill the role of Dallas' lead guard. With this in mind, coming into the season, Williams had a tall task of being one of the Mavericks' few guards off the bench who could impact the game for the better on the offensive side of the floor, and in one of his first outings this season, Williams delivered.

Only a few days removed from being arrested, Williams showed his true worth to the Mavericks by pouring in a team-leading 20 points off the bench. From the opening tip, Williams made it clear that he was playing for a spot in Kidd's rotation by dazzling at the rim for open buckets and forcing the Pacers' defense to react off his speed.

This sudden sign of life not only carried the Mavericks back from down 14 points in the first half of the game, but Williams' consistent pressure on the rim created countless open opportunities for players who decided to cut or who were waiting around the three-point line. Williams' appearance back in Dallas' lineup not only gave fans some life about the team's offensive potential, but he has already proven that, alongside D'Angelo Russell, he is indispensable in Kidd's rotation.

Through five games, the Mavericks have continued to struggle finding their offensive identity, but assuming Williams can continue to have a consistent offensive output, the Mavericks may have found their creator off the bench.

For Williams, consistency when it comes to shooting the ball has always been a problem, but since the last few games of the Mavericks' 2024-25 NBA season and the first few games this year, Williams has proven that he can be a reliable offensive talent. Obviously, the Mavericks will need to keep making strides in finding their offensive identity, but with Williams hopefully a sure-fire talent off the bench, Kidd's rotation may not look as bad.