It’s all blending together for Brice Williams.
The training sessions, the recovery, the packing and unpacking as he flies around the country to meet with NBA teams has been more strenuous than he expected.
Every workout is an audition, one that requires his complete focus. And there have been a lot of them.
Nebraska’s former All-Big Ten guard went through drills in front of the Golden State Warriors’ front office Monday. By his estimation, it was his 10th or 11th workout in front of a prospective future team. Next up is a trip to Dallas to go through the same process with the Mavericks.
The draft is June 25, and Williams is on the radars of NBA decision makers, whether he’s selected or signs somewhere as an undrafted free agent.
Until then, the cycle of travel, workouts and meetings will continue as Williams tries to prove he belongs at the highest level.
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“Just competing,” Williams said on a Zoom call from San Francisco. “Competing every day. My shot making. I guess my versatility. That’s what I bring night-in and night-out. I’m not gonna say I’m gonna make a shot every day or I shoot well or I make the right decisions every time. But they know I compete. They know I talk. They know I bring energy, and that’s what I can hang my hat on every day.”
In the negative space between visits with NBA teams, Williams is home in North Carolina, working out in the same gym as fellow former Husker Bryce McGowens, Nebraska's most recent NBA draftee.
As he trains, Williams tries to make his private workouts similar to the structure of those at the NBA Combine in May and in front of teams now.
It means getting up as many shots as possible, again and again and again to keep his confidence expanding. Shooting off the dribble has been another priority as he tries to translate his skill set to the next level.
As Williams has navigated these new waters, he’s seen similarities to his experience at Nebraska. NU, helmed by former NBA player, coach and front office member Fred Hoiberg, runs the same drills and uses terminology that translates to the NBA.
“It’s a more smooth transition, and also the coaching and what is expected of you is pretty much the same,” Williams said. “So even through practices, through the game and how everything is repped out, I’ve got a one-up on other guys. And just the preparation and the things that we talk about in the offseason just helps me with a smoother transition to the organizations and the NBA.”
Returns have generally been positive for Williams.
He’s coming off of one of the best seasons from a Husker in recent memory, averaging 20.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for an NU team that needed his best effort night-in and night-out.
The past few weeks have been an opportunity to give NBA teams an in-person look at his game, a chance to make an impression in a short period of time before the cycle continues.
“They all say I have a lot of talent and upside,” Williams said. “They just want to see me defend multiple positions. They want to see me put on a little bit more weight. But I’m getting a lot of positive feedback. Obviously there’s things I need to work on, but it’s a lot more positive than negative.”
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