The New York Knicks signed Tosan Evbuomwan, per Ian Begley of SNY. The former Princeton star joins this year's Eastern Conference runner-ups on a two-way deal.
As someone with two years' worth of NBA experience, the Newcastle, England, native has become a mentor to Amari Williams. The Boston Celtics' rookie center hails from Nottingham. The two were together when the latter became the No. 46 overall pick in this year's draft.
With Evbuomwan playing for the Brooklyn Nets at Summer League, he was able to monitor Williams's performance. He was there to lend his advice and aid the former Kentucky Wildcats' standout center and the other British players participating in Las Vegas.
In an exclusive interview at Summer League, Williams shared with this author the message Evbuomwan delivered to him as he begins his professional career.
"Go out there and be aggressive," conveyed Williams. "A lot of the games, I came out timid, but I learned as the game went on, I [have] got to be aggressive and trying to go get it myself sometimes."
Williams' ability to apply that advice, operating with an aggressive mindset from the opening tip, is crucial to getting the best from himself.
What to expect from Amari Williams this season
The seven-foot center joined the Celtics on a two-way deal. Anticipate seeing him spend most of his rookie season with their G League affiliate in Maine.
That's an ideal environment for Williams to sharpen his game. Given his intriguing skill set, flipping a switch mentally to take the floor each time with an aggressive approach is as important as anything he needs to gain.
The 23-year-old center is a deft passer. Williams is plenty comfortable acting as an offensive hub. Kentucky would often lean on him to initiate its offense. The Wildcats did so even more as they dealt with injuries in the backcourt.
From age 14 to 15, Williams grew from about five-foot-11 to roughly six-foot-four. Luckily, he retained the guard skills that he built his game around offensively. Thanks to his formative years in the backcourt, he is plenty comfortable bringing the ball up the floor. It's a vehicle to initiate the offense more quickly. It also allows primary ball handlers to start possessions without the rock before getting it in an advantageous situation.
At the other end of the floor, Williams' background playing soccer gives him the mobility to become a switchable center.
"I think he's got the potential to be an elite-level defensive player switching one through five," Kentucky head coach Mark Pope told this author during a July interview. "And he certainly showed a lot of signs for that and did that well for us in important moments. I think that's going to be important for him to continue growing and just learning the NBA game. We play very much an NBA style. But there's nothing like actually being in the mix."
Combine that versatility with his seven-foot-five wingspan, and you have a center capable of consistently swatting, altering, and detering shots at the rim. His wingspan also helps him on the boards. The latter is another area where an aggressive approach will go a long way for Williams.
If he puts it all together, there's a path to playing time with the parent club. The center spot is the Celtics' position of most concern entering this season. It's important to maintain realistic expectations for Williams. However, he has the tools to grow into a part of Boston's long-term solution at the pivot.