During his time with the Boston Celtics, Grant Williams did a lot to help create a strong culture and produce winning basketball. Now, in his third season with the Hornets, Charlotte is learning just how much of a needle-mover he can be for any team he finds himself on.
Ever since he was taken with the 22nd pick of the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, Williams has brought so many intangibles to the table that have helped his teams become the best they can be. He proved very quickly that he's a fast learner with true skill and a maturity that's uncommon.
Those attributes were defining traits of the first four years of his career in Boston. Grant earned playing time as a rookie right away and made the most of it. Eventually, in his third season, he'd become a 24 minutes per night guy averaging just under eight points per game on elite efficiency for a team that went to the NBA Finals.
After a brief stop in Dallas, Williams has now found where he truly belongs, in his home city of Charlotte. And from day one, he reinforced the idea that he was there to help that organization turn things around and become a true winner.
Grant Williams' value can't be measured in a box score
From his first introductory press conference with the Hornets, things became personal for Grant. He talked about growing up watching the team play, remembering all the passion from the fanbase, and how he wanted to be a part of bringing that winning culture back. He had done it with the Celtics, so why not for his hometown team?
Williams spent around nine months in Charlotte before a devastating ACL injury put him on the sidelines for over a full year. It was a challenging circumstance that would have broken players with a weaker mental fortitude, but Grant was always going to see it through to the end.
Now, he's returned to the court and has been part of some of the best basketball Hornets fans have seen in many years. Charlotte holds a 6-3 record since his return, and his skill at both ends of the floor have contributed toward that.
More than anything, his presence has helped raise the standard for what that team expects from itself on a nightly basis. Leadership and accountability tend to follow him wherever he goes. For a Hornets team still shaping its identity, Grant Williams' influence continues to be paramount. The Celtics are well aware of the type of impact he brings to any locker room he's a part of, and Charlotte is beginning to see it firsthand.