Brandon Williams might not be part of the Golden State Warriors starting lineup, but the recently acquired guard still emerges as a major winner from Steve Kerr's revelation of his plans ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against the LA Clippers.
Kerr's first starting lineup of the preseason features Brandin Podziemski at the shooting guard position, leaving D'Anthony Melton in a bench role alongside his former high school teammate in Williams.
Brandon Williams is early winner of Warriors' starting lineup call
There’s very little familiarity for Williams as he enters his first season with Golden State. The only source of it comes through Melton a decade after the pair played together at Crespi Carmelite high school in California.
For a player who is still on a non-guaranteed contract and is looking to secure his spot on the main roster come opening night, any boost Williams can get will be surely appreciated. That boost could come through Melton who not only has shared experience with Williams, but should be a nice complement to him in the backcourt off the bench.
Melton‘s point of attack defense and secondary ball-handling should hopefully blend effectively with Williams' obvious ability to get downhill and provide the scoring punch Golden State needs in the absence of Jimmy Butler.
Perhaps that was part of Kerr’s decision when choosing between Podziemski and Melton for the first starting opportunity alongside Stephen Curry. For as much as Melton might be an excellent fit with the two-time MVP, the 28-year-old also holds value with helping Williams get acclimatized and feel comfortable with his new team.
Brandon Williams is already making waves at the Warriors
Williams’ downhill speed is unique across the league, but even more so with the Warriors who've lacked someone with his level of explosiveness off the dribble since trading Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards over three years ago.
Williams impressed playing with the second unit during Thursday's scrimmage, with Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area noting that he "was blowing by defenders and getting into the teeth of the defense as a playmaker."
The 26-year-old is coming off a career-best year with the Dallas Mavericks where he averaged 13.0 points and 3.9 assists, yet no one would blame him if his confidence was shook slightly by having to wait until late in free agency for a contract -- and a non-guaranteed one at that.
Strong performances in training camp and preseason will make Williams feel at home in a Warrior jersey, and having Melton alongside him should accelerate that process quicker than it may otherwise would.
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