MEMPHIS — Since he joined the NBA in 2021 as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona, point guard Brandon Williams has been paying his bills
by signing a bunch of 10-day and two-way contracts. In other words, he’s been playing for peanuts — by NBA standards.
That all came to an abrupt end on Thursday when the Dallas Mavericks converted Williams’ two-way contract into a standard two-year contract. So, after years of waiting to receive some financial security, obviously what transpired Thursday called for a huge celebration on Williams’ part, right?
“I can’t celebrate,” Williams said. “I’ve got to hit the ground running. I’ll celebrate after the season.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s my first time off of a two-way. I just know what the guys have been telling me is it’s just a start. Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low. It’s just about staying the same course, especially when you look at where I left off.”
Before playing in Friday’s 124-102 win over the Toronto Raptors, Williams hadn’t played since he scored 12 points in just 16 minutes during the Mavs’ March 29 win over the Chicago Bulls. That was the 50th game Williams was on the Mavs’ active roster this season, which is the most a two-way player can have by NBA rules.
However, as soon as they were able to turn Williams’ two-way contract into a standard contract, the Mavs leapt at the opportunity. That’s because they’ve seen his development up close, and they’ve seen how he’s been a sponge when soaking up the valuable information he’s received from point guard Kyrie Irving, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair his left torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“I think being around Kai here has elevated (Williams’) game, and then also just the work that he’s put in (and) his patience,” Kidd said. “(He’s) understanding what we’re asking him to do and he stepped in with all the injuries and did a great job and earned that contract.
“It just wasn’t given to him. He earned it. His speed and his ability to get in the paint, and then his playmaking was good (against the Raptors), but also…his finishing. I think he has studied Kai a little bit and has taken a page out of his book.”
Williams actually called Irving prior to the game against Toronto.
“Nothing basketball-related,” Williams said. “I just needed some beats, but it was all good. I call Kai literally about anything.
“Obviously, (Irving and Kidd) are two hall of famers right in my back yard, right in my back pocket. Anything that I need, anything that I want to learn about, the
office is right there and Kyrie is one phone call away. It’s a compliment that (Kidd) said that though, because I look up to Kyrie.”
Williams tallied 17 points in just 22 minutes against Toronto, and was 7-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the three-point arc. It was sort of a pick up where he left off type of game from Williams.
“To be out when he was going at a high rate, to sit and have to watch, you can be a little rusty,” Kidd said. “But I thought he’s done a great job of keeping himself prepared (and) the coaches have done a great job of keeping him ready to go.
“You would think that he’s been playing this whole time out, but he hasn’t. I thought he’s done a really good job of keeping himself ready to go and it showed (Friday).”
And now that he has some financial security, Williams is even hungrier as the Mavs end the regular season Sunday against Memphis before playing Sacramento on Wednesday in the NBA play-in tournament.
“I’m going to play free,” Williams said. “That’s how I’ve been playing all year. Obviously, I know the situation and I know the emotions and the gravity. A lot of guys on our team have been in that situation in terms of the playoff series. Obviously, I’m asking the guys, but at the end of the day I’ve still got to play my game and be aggressive.
“I’ve been on a two-way for a while, so I think that should just speak alone. But I’ve got guys in my corner, everybody on the team. Everybody just pushing me along the way, just come on the court and make an impact.”
Here are some other nuggets surrounding Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies.
*For the Mavs, Sunday’s game against Memphis represents their regular season finale. However, their season will go on after Sunday against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in the NBA play-in tournament. If the Mavs defeat the Grizzlies and the Kings somehow lose their home game against the Phoenix Suns – also Sunday – that Mavs-Kings play-in game will take place at American Airlines Center. Any other scenario and the play-in game will be in Sacramento.
*Mavs forward Anthony Davis put on a remarkable performance on Friday against the Toronto Raptors as he finished that game with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and seven blocks. Davis joined David Robinson and Nate Thurmond as the only players since the 1973-74 season – when the NBA first started tracking 
blocks – to pick up at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and seven blocks in a game. It was the fourth career triple-double for Davis.
*Ja Morant is the one who gets the engine revved for the Grizzlies. The mercurial point guard has a lot of bounce in his step and can dunk over anybody who gets in his way. Morant is averaging 23.2 ppg and 7.3 apg while shooting 45.4 percent from the field. All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (22.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), TCU-ex Desmond Bane (19.2 ppg, 6.1. rpg, 5.3 apg), Santi Aldama (12.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), and Zach Edey (9.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) also have been mainstays for the Grizzlies.
*Friday’s 22-point win over the Raptors (124-102) was the largest by the Mavs since they spanked the Washington Wizards,130-108 back on Jan. 27. Also, Toronto scored just 38 points on Dallas in the first half. That’s the fewest points the Mavs have allowed in the first half of a game this since they held the New York Knicks to 38 points in the first half of the team’s Nov. 27 game at American Airlines Center.
*The Grizzlies are 2-1 against the Mavs this season. On Dec. 3 in Dallas, the Mavs defeated the Grizzlies, 121-116. But on Jan. 6 in Memphis, the Grizzlies got 35 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three steals from Jackson en route to beating the Mavs, 119-104. And on March 7 in Dallas, Morant collected 31 points and eight assists in leading Memphis to a 122-111 win. For Dallas, Brandon Williams had a career-high 31 points, five rebounds and six assists in that game.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (39-42) at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (47-34)
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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