Portland Trail Blazers rookie Brandon Williams grew up watching Chauncey Billups so the 22-year-old was admittedly happy to have the opportunity to play for him.
Williams, who went undrafted out of Arizona, signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He previously signed a 10-day contract with Portland in December when they were decimated by the health and safety protocol and was happy to join the team again.
Billups was among those sidelined in the protocol in December and wasn’t there to coach him so Williams’ second stint with the team is his first chance to play for the former NBA Finals MVP.
I grew up watching him so it is kinda good him being my coach and giving me pointers as a point guard. … I grew up watching him, me and my dad did so sometimes, I kinda look over to the sidelines and I still can’t believe it. It is a dream come true, though. Couldn’t want it any other way.
Williams previously totaled eight points, two rebounds and two assists in two games with the Trail Blazers in December. On Thursday, he recorded a career-high 12 points and two rebounds in his first game back during a loss to the Golden State Warriors.
He is relishing the opportunity to play in the NBA once again.
It is fun, just come out here and play basketball — that’s what guys are telling me. They kinda saw I was a little anxious and hyped as a young guy being out there so, at the end of the day, it is just basketball and I just gotta take a deep breath.
The Trail Blazers have been tasked with integrating several new players into the roster so they are still trying to adjust to one another. However, they will need to do so rather quickly in order to hang around in the play-in race as Williams will be among them looking to catch up.
Williams will be looking to help contribute down the stretch this season but it is clear that the newcomer will give everything he has to his new head coach in the future.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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