5 Reasons why every Mavericks fan will love Grant Williams

After the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated from playoff contention last year, one thing was clear - they needed defense at the forward position. The addition of Grant Williams will bring much-needed defensive help to the star-studded backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

The former 2019 first-round pick has averaged 8.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds throughout his career thus far. He also played a crucial part in multiple Boston Celtics playoff runs. This includes two runs to the Eastern Conference finals and one trip to the NBA Finals in the 2022 season - and his role has been a big one.

5 Reasons why every Mavericks fan will love Grant Williams

Williams may not have been the most flashy name on the market, but the former Celtic reserve will surely make a name for himself in Dallas, as he is likely poised to step in as a Day 1 starter. His play at the power forward position could be exactly what the Mavericks need to take their team to the next level.

At just 24 years old, Williams will have the ability to blossom into a key role within the Mavericks organization for many years to come. The Mavs needed a player who would not only play his role perfectly, but similarly, a player that would complement the likes of Doncic and Irving, and that's exactly what Williams will bring.

From Williams's expected on-court production to his off-court community help, here are five reasons why soon-to-be fan favorite Grant Williams will be loved by every Mavericks fan.

1. Creation off closeouts and 3-point shot making

Coming into the league out of the Univerity of Tennesse, Grant Williams was a defensive specialist at heart. He had to work on his offensive game throughout his career, and in four years with the Boston Celtics, Williams has done exactly that.

At the three-point line, Williams would take a healthy dosage of shots, shooting just over 3.5 attempts per game and making scoring them at a 39.5% clip this past year. This high-valued three-point shooting will be a deadly tool next to Luka Doncic's playmaking ability.

Williams's three-point shot-making will force more defenders to close out on his open shots, which then gives Williams the ability to create off of closeouts.

This closeout ability is something the Mavericks sorely missed throughout last year's disastrous season. Williams will not only become a stout shooter alongside Luka Doncic, but his much-improved dribble-drive game will continue to surprise Mavs fans.

Williams will be expected to take both his three-point shooting and shot-creating potential to another level, as he will have a more significant role in Dallas compared to the one he had in Boston under head coach Joe Mazzulla.

2. Instantly the team's best defender

Grant Williams has made one thing clear throughout his career - defense. Defense has become his calling card, as he has been asked to guard the likes of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, and Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Williams constantly uses his 236-pound figure to bully opposing players into taking bad fadeaway shots when in the low post. He also has the ability to defend in space, as he uses his lateral quickness to catch up to offensive players, often forcing them to pass out of pressure.

The 24-year-old is also a very switchable defender, as he can guard multiple positions. This will be very useful for head coach Jason Kidd, as he will likely have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the floor at the same time. Having Williams behind these two will prevent opposing players from getting their preferred switch onto a weaker defender.

Williams will now step into a role in Dallas where he will be asked to become the team-leading defender and likely take over the role former Maverick Dorian Finney-Smith played before being traded in the Irving deal.

With Williams on the roster, the Mavericks will have a new primary defensive presence leading the way on that end of the court.

3. Fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

Grant Williams will step into a new situation in Dallas where he will be asked to complement Dallas Mavericks star guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

Williams' offensive game will accommodate Doncic's splashy playmaking ability, whether it's rotating around the three-point line to get an open shot or running screen and rolls at the top of the key, Williams will be the guy for the job.

Plus, as mentioned, his improvements creating off the dribble with give the Mavericks another outlet to go to outside of Doncic and Irving, freeing up a bit of space for the two star guards to work.

Whatever scenario Williams is put into next to Doncic, it's clear that he will already be a perfect fit, and the same can be said about his fit with Irving on the offensive end.

Defensively, now that Williams will be Dallas's best defender, he will be taking a huge load off of Doncic's and Irving's shoulders, as they are not the best defenders.

Dallas has long needed a wing of Williams's caliber, and now, next to Irving and Doncic, we could potentially see some of the best basketball played throughout his young career, especially with the way he will be able to cover up some of his teammates weaknesses on the defensive end.

4. Ability to step up in key games

In Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals, Grant Williams knocked down an astounding seven three-pointers in the closeout affair. This tied a playoff record for threes made in a Game 7, and it's a record that still stands today. With the closeout win, the Boston Celtics finished off the Milwaukee Bucks and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

Williams has made it clear through his numerous playoff appearances that he loves the moment and is prepared to step up even when he hasn't had a significant impact in previous games.

In this past year's playoff run with the Celtics, we saw Williams riding the bench throughout most of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, as well as early in the second round against the Philidelphia 76ers.

However, star wings Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown went to Joe Mazzulla and asked for Williams to be moved into a bigger role. Williams went on to help the Celtics take down the 76ers in seven games, playing impactful basketball, especially on the defensive end.

This is an attribute of Williams that Mavericks fans will love to watch, as they are poised to make a playoff birth for the first time since their 2022 Western Conference finals run.

5. Impact on the community

Throughout his stint with the Boston Celtics, Grant Williams made it a point to always give back to the community, ensuring that he was always getting involved in Boston and the surrounding area.

Involvement within the community has been a core part of Williams' basketball journey. With the Grant Williams Family Foundation, the Mavericks forward provided a platform for promoting youth sports and opportunities in communities that would have likely otherwise gone unseen.

Williams is already immersing himself in the Dallas community, too. Since joining the Mavericks Williams has hosted a youth basketball camp in the DFW metroplex that promoted involvement in sports at a young age for both girls and boys.

It's a given that Williams will continue to make his presence felt within the community as the offseason progresses, so expect to see more youth camps and programs in the news that have been hosted or attended by the young forward.

Obviously, Williams' presence on the court will be what earns him playing time, but his activity off the court should give fans even more of a reason to root for him.

All in all, the Mavericks got a perfect fit. Someone who fits their stars perfectly, makes an impact on both sides of the ball, and will consistently get involved in the Dallas community.