New Dallas Mavericks player Grant Williams, 24, brought an energizing force of excitement to Mavs Hoop Camp Wednesday afternoon, noticing every single child as he hurled half-court shots, did push-ups for losing a game, and offered words of encouragement.
“I love Dallas so far,” Williams said.
Enthusiasm swirled at the Mavs Practice Facility as the youngsters welcomed the newest member of the Mavs.
At times, it felt more like a homecoming than a new beginning.
“You’re my favorite player!” shouted one kid as Williams made his grand entry.
The Mavs forward immediately took over and started coaching and leading the youth.
At one point, he stopped a routine figure eight drill because the kids needed to sharpen their passes.
“Let’s go back and start over,” Williams encouraged the youngsters, directing them to stay big and wide and work hard on finishing.
Excellence is in his blood.
“Today’s been very active,” Williams later said, “but very, very special. I spent some time with the kids in the academy, to not only hopefully help them learn a little about basketball, but also life. It’s fun. This is the best part of the summer, just spending time (with them), being accessible and available.”
Williams said he arrived in Dallas three days ago and will move to the city officially in September.
“I’m just enjoying it and trying to get myself accustomed,” he added with a smile.
As for living in Dallas?
“I’m purchasing rather than renting because I’ve always been told that Dallas would be good. I’m from Charlotte, and they say Dallas is like Charlotte West.”
There’s no question that Williams is a welcomed addition to the community, said Ben Hunt, who oversees the Mavs Academy.
The versatile forward is already making a splash with the kids and staffers.
Unlike most players who sit back and wait for direction, Williams leads the charge from the moment he steps on the floor. His charismatic personality, natural leadership style and basketball IQ are impressive and greatly needed in Dallas.
“Grant’s been phenomenal,” Hunt said. “We joked earlier that we might have found a new camp coach because his interaction, engagement, and ability to have our campers respond and listen to him has been tremendous. All the players on the Mavs bring something special and a little different, and Grant has done that. He’s stepped up and taken over uniquely, and we really appreciate his visit.”
Williams is a natural when working in the community and he spends a great portion of his time in the off-season giving back to the game.
The 3-and-D wing hosts his own camps all summer, and the Grant Williams Family Foundation will have its inaugural event on Sept. 10, 2023, in Knoxville. Williams also hosted a youth basketball camp at Boston University earlier this summer.
“Honestly, it means the world, being in the community, being involved and being accessible,” he added. “I always go back to when I was younger. Kemba (Walker), Gerald Henderson, D.J. Augustin were always guys I looked to in my community that would always have camps and make you feel involved. And as a kid, you feel like you can accomplish the same things they did. That’s something I hope to inspire and why I’m honored to be here. To be here and have some fun. You never know how you’re going to help someone’s day. If I can do that one day at a time, that’s big.”
After leaving camp, Williams is headed to a wedding next, followed by more community events. He said the summers are always active, and he tries to be present for his friends and family.
Mavs fans will be happy to hear that his hand is making progress, and judging by the push-ups and several dunks he did, all is well heading into training camp next month. Williams underwent surgery on his left hand in early June to repair a torn ligament after injuring it during the Celtics’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.
“I think it’s doing decent,” he said, explaining how he’ll need a couple more weeks until he’s at full speed. “I’m feeling pretty good, the hands great, and I’m doing well… I’m super excited to start playing and being active again.”
He’ll also pay attention to his new teammate Luka Doncic ahead of the FIBA 2023 World Cup.
Williams is thrilled to play with him versus guarding his shot.
“Probably the most exciting thing I have with Luka is just seeing how he plays the game, seeing how skilled he is,” Williams said with a grin. “The benefit of playing against him (is) you understand how special he is on the floor. The way he plays, knowing how he sees the game. And the growth that hopefully I can bring in with him is this consistent effort in the right way.
“Like, making the right read every single time, no matter if it’s good or bad…and making sure the guys stay uplifted. I love how (Luka) plays; I love the player he is and the person that he is. He’s amazing too, so (my goal is to let) that light shine more than just a basketball player.”
One twist that Williams brought to Mavs Hoop Camp at the Mavs Practice Facility was the chance for everyone to earn $100 if they made a half-court shot. He even invited the parents in the stands, staffers, and coaches to participate in the fun. He does something similar at his own camps.
“I just wanted to do that here and just give them an opportunity to have some fun,” the 6-6 veteran shared.
It’s been an exciting summer of basketball as the Mavs Academy wraps up its 10th straight week of camps across North Texas. The Mavs started camps 30 years ago at Collin County College, and they finished the summer with one of the camps there this week.
Williams visited the location this morning before heading to Dallas.
“We have been in many locations, gyms and facilities, schools and recreation centers over 30 years,” said Hunt. “We had our first camp at Collin County College in 1993 and finished there this week in 2023. So, this is 30 years at that location, and we’ve had tremendous success and support for our program. It’s quite remarkable.”
Story: @TamaraJolee, Dallas Mavs
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