Williams ready to play his first game against Celtics

Following Sunday’s rare practice, Mavericks forward Grant Williams explained what it was like playing for such a tradition-rich organization like the Boston Celtics and why he’s looking forward to playing against his former team.

“It was a blessing,” he said. “I was drafted to an organization that treated me with grace and treated me with class.

“There’s a bunch of phenomenal people in their organization that — not just the players, but the coaching staff. Even the new staff that are there in the front office from top to bottom. I’m thankful for the time that I had there for four years, and it’ll be great to be able to catch up.”

The Celtics selected Williams in the first round – 22^nd overall – of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Tennessee. He spent four effective years in Boston before the Mavs acquired him in a sign-and-trade last summer.

When the Mavs (24-18) host Boston (33-10) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center, it’ll mark the first time Williams will have played against the Celtics since last summer’s trade. And it’s a matchup Williams has been anxiously waiting on, especially since the Celtics come to town sporting the NBA’s best record.

“It’s going to be cool seeing all those guys,” Williams said. “I had four great years with them and that organization. They’re playing their tail off right now, so it should be a competitive game.”

In 286 career games with the Celtics – including 58 starts – Williams averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.2 minutes, and shot 45.1 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three-point land.

When Williams was with Boston, the Celtics enjoyed a lot of success. During his rookie season, they lost to the Miami Heat in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and in his second season Boston lost to Brooklyn in five games in the first round.

Williams and the Celtics advanced to the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games. And last year the Celtics were one win away from qualifying for the NBA Finals again, but they lost Game 7 of the East Finals to the Heat.

There were a lot of teaching tools Williams learned during his tenure with the Celtics.

“The biggest thing that I got out of being a Celtic is I feel like they taught many different things,” he said. “One, (I learned) how to win. I learned professionalism from the players.”

For Williams, part of that professionalism included learning how to accept tough losses. Particularly since the Celtics were so close to winning three of the past four NBA Finals, but came away empty-handed.

“I feel like as an organization, really it’s just not going to all be roses,” Williams said. “I’ve gone through a season where we went to Eastern Conference Finals, and the next season we (lost to the Nets in five games).

“The year after that we went to the NBA Finals, and we lost. We went to the conference finals (last season) down 3-0 and we had a chance to come back. So, no matter how talented you are, no matter the opportunity that’s in front of you, you have to go out and grab it and take it. I learned that a lot in Boston that it’s not just the talent you have, it’s going to be the fight and the effort and the dog that you play with.”

Of course, any “fight” with the Celtics will include trying to handcuff their top two players – All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is averaging 26.9 points and 8.4 rebounds, and Brown averages 23.1 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Asked for the scouting report on Tatum and Brown, Williams smiled and said: “Honestly, I don’t know if there’s much to say. Those guys are playing at a high-profile level. JT, as much as you want to give a scouting report from last season, he’s worked on his game so much this year that he looks like he’s really playing basketball at a high rate.

“JB has done a phenomenal job, especially over these past 10 games of really being aggressive and knocking down shots and tough looks. His pivots, his ability to use his athleticism to his advantage (are great). And then they do a great job of playing with pace now.”

That pace includes impactful plays generated by former Mavs center Kristaps Porzingis, who is averaging 19.1 points and 6.8 rebounds.

“(Celtics point guard Derrick) White does a phenomenal job of running up and down the court,” Williams said. “And Kristaps gives them a different opportunity for post ups and taking advantage of switching and matchups. It’s an interesting thing.”

The scouting report on Williams is that he’s a hard-nosed defensive player who can drain more than his fair share of three-pointers. In his 38 games with the Mavs this season, Williams is averaging 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 26.8 minutes while experiencing nagging injuries that have hampered his progress.

“Everybody goes through something,” Williams said. “I’ve seen people play through things they had to get surgery on. I played through a finger surgery. I didn’t realize it for six months. It’s going to happen.

“You can’t complain about it unless you choose to sit your butt down. So, I’m just going to go out there and give everything I have.”

Williams admits leaving the Celtics and joining the Mavs has been a seamless transition for him.

“The difficulties (aren’t) anything the Mavs have done,” he said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job of trying to prepare me and getting me accustomed and really feel comfortable as a whole. For me, it’s just like understanding the defensive system, understanding how to make an impact even when I’m not shooting the ball the way I was at the start of the year.

“I’ve done that in the past couple of weeks and that’s how it’s going to turn back around and that’s something I always believe.”

Williams is shooting 41.3 percent from the field this season, including 36.9 percent from beyond the three-point arc. He expects those percentages to increase in the immediate future.

“You can’t come in nightly and daily and shoot 90 percent or 85 percent from three in practice and not see it translate (to the games),” Williams said. “For me, that’s why I don’t even worry about the offensive side of the ball.

“It’s just a matter of being that defender, being that guy that they’ve asked me to become and be, and really being confident in that role.”

While injuries have forced him to miss four games this season, Williams said: “No matter the health, no matter what’s going on off the floor, you just have to approach every single day like it could be your last. No matter if I’m 100 percent, 60 percent or 50 (percent), I’m going to give this team all I have. If it’s 50 (percent) that night, it’s 50 (percent). Hopefully that 50 (percent) is good enough for us to get a win.

“I realize that as much as these first (42) games were huge for matchups and playoffs and everything, we have to keep playing. We’ve got (40) more go to. Just because the first half didn’t go the way I wanted – hopefully the second half will – it doesn’t mean that even the second half goes the way we want it to go. I’m trying to stay positive.”

And trying, on Monday, to get a win against his former team.

BRIEFLY: Mavs forward Dante Exum went through his first full practice session on Sunday since suffering a right plantar sprain during the Jan. 1 game in Utah. That’s the last time Exum has played in a game. However, he is listed as doubtful against the Celtics . . . Guard Seth Curry is questionable for the game against Boston with a left ankle sprain . . . Friday’s practice was the first for the Mavs in 28 days. “I feel like no one here complains about practicing,” forward Grant Williams said. “Everybody likes playing. I feel like the practice side, we’re more excited for the scrimmaging and the competitive side. But without the drills and the things that we do, we can’t really perfect the defensive and offensive side of the ball that we need.”

X: @DwainPrice