Social media reacts to former UNC Tar Heel Cam Johnson posterizing former Duke star Mark Williams.
Another day, another Tar Heel posterizing a Duke star in the NBA. That is what happened Thursday night, as Brooklyn Nets [autotag]Cam Johnson[/autotag] posterized Charlotte Hornets Mark Williams.
The dunk came in the fourth quarter with seven minutes left to go, giving Brooklyn a 115-112 lead in a tightly contested game. The dunk has since gone viral, as personalities, outlets, and fans shared the clip around social media. In two hours, the clip has already gathered over 100k views.
Brooklyn would eventually lose 129-128, but the dunk will live to be the most memorable moment of the game. Johnson returned recently, making the moment that much sweeter, on top of posterizing a Duke player on the pro stage.
Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to Johnson’s monstrous dunk on Williams.
Williams put up a career performance on Saturday and joined some legends in the history books in a win over the Heat.
Charlotte Hornets rookie Mark Williams put up a career performance on Saturday and joined some legends of the game in the history books in the process.
Williams produced 18 points, 20 rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot in a 108-103 win over the Miami Heat. He went 9-of-12 from the field in 29 minutes of work as the Hornets continued their season-best four-game win streak.
Williams sealed the win after scoring four points in the final two minutes, including a putback dunk to give the Hornets a five-point lead with 44.9 seconds left.
“It feels great to make those plays and to have those plays end up in a win,” Williams said. “It feels really good and (to) continue to build on that, especially for me, and build that confidence as we push through here.”
Williams spent much of the first half of the season in the G League to develop and adjust to the increased competition level of the NBA. The assignments were a great chance to learn coverages, and those minutes appear to be paying off.
He entered the rotation in late December and has seen a much larger role since the team traded Mason Plumlee at the deadline. He has started in each of their last five games and is averaging 11.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in that role.
“The more and more I play, the more comfortable I’m getting,” Williams said. “I think, offensively, just ready to catch passes from whomever — lobs, live balls, etc. Defensively, just communication and sliding my feet and guarding whomever, protecting the paint. I think I’m getting better and better each game and I’m just trying to build on that.”
With the Hornets likely looking ahead to next season, their final 20 games will give Williams a great opportunity to develop and build some positive momentum heading into his second year.
Williams produced 11 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in the 127-116 loss. He finished 4-of-7 from the field in nearly 31 minutes of work as the Hornets dropped their sixth straight game.
The start gave Williams the opportunity to play against a different group of players. Hornets coach Steve Clifford wanted to see how Williams would respond to the challenge, and it looks as though the 21-year-old played well in that role.
The Hornets opted to keep Williams in the G League for much of the season. Since entering the rotation on Dec. 26, Williams is averaging 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 64.8% shooting from the field in 23 games.
The team viewed the assignments as a great opportunity for Williams to adjust to the competition and learn the types of coverages at the position. It is that experience that will help Williams over the final stretch of the season as he looks poised to play a larger role moving forward.
Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.
The term “rookie wall” is often used to describe how first-year players may hit a roadblock in the midst of their seasons as they adjust to the 82-game schedule and increased competition level in the NBA.
With teams well into the second halves of their schedules, some rookies appear to be slowing down of late. However, there are others that are seemingly heating up at the moment and are continuing to play at a high level.
Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin fits that bill.
The sixth pick (more on him below) is coming off one of his best outings of the season on Tuesday to lead the Pacers to a win over Chicago. The group snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win to set up a prime rookie matchup on Wednesday against Paolo Banchero and the Magic.
To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.
Williams produced a career-high-tying 17 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in the 122-117 victory on the road. He finished 8-of-10 from the field in 18 minutes and 42 seconds of work off the bench.
His five blocks were a career high.
The 15th pick became the second player to record at least 17 points and five blocks in 20 minutes or fewer in a game (Herb Williams, March 1983). He is the first Hornets rookie with five blocks since Bismack Biyombo in April 2012.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford explained what he brought to the game.
His rim-protection, inside play and some good screening. He is very poised. He has played in a lot of big games in his career but he is very poised on the floor and he did a really good job.
Williams was used sparingly to begin the season, but he has played a major role with the team lately. He is averaging 7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 60.3% shooting from the field in 12 games since Dec. 26. Included in that stretch was a 17-point and 13-rebound performance on Dec 29.
The Hornets have opted to keep Williams in the NBA G League for much of the season. The team viewed the assignments as a great opportunity for Williams to adjust to the competition and learn the types of coverages at the position.
Williams responded by averaging 22.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 64.8% shooting in 11 games in Greensboro. He recorded eight double-doubles and produced a monster performance during his last time out on Dec. 22: 29 points and 17 rebounds.
Clifford previously commended Williams for welcoming the chance to play in the G League. It is clear those minutes in Greensboro helped prepare him for his recent opportunity and the rookie is showing what he can provide the team.
Williams produced 17 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots in the 121-113 win. He was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in 21 minutes of work off of the bench in just his sixth appearance of the season.
The 15th pick became just the third rookie in history to record at least 17 points and 13 rebounds in a game on 100% shooting from the field. He is also just the fifth player ever to put up those numbers along with two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford liked what Williams brought to the floor.
I think it shows what he is capable of. You have to do it three, four times a week against different types of players and different types of players. This shows his talent and now it’s, ‘Can you do it every night?’ That’s what the NBA is all about.
The appearance was Williams’ third straight for the Hornets. The 21-year-old was thrust into action as the backup center with Nick Richards dealing with an ankle injury. Richards was cleared to play after missing two games, but Clifford opted to stick with Williams in the second unit.
Williams appreciated the decision to stick with him.
The trust (Coach) puts into me, that means a lot. I just wanted to show that it was the right decision and wanted to make the most out of the opportunity and just play hard and play to my strengths.
The Hornets have opted to keep Williams in the NBA G League for much of the season. The team viewed the assignments as a great opportunity for Williams to adjust to the competition and learn the different types of coverages at the position.
Williams responded by averaging 22.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 64.8% shooting in 11 games in Greensboro. He recorded eight double-doubles and produced a monster performance during his last time out on Dec. 22: 29 points and 17 rebounds.
Those games helped him stay prepared to contribute to the Hornets.
You never know what each game could hold. Things can happen. So, I think for me, it’s just being ready for my opportunity when that moment happens and just being prepared for it. It’s not like I’m nervous or anything. It’s just basketball. When I’m on the floor, just making the most of it, doing the things I’m supposed to do on both sides of the ball. I think I just showed a little bit of that tonight.
Clifford previously commended Williams for welcoming the chance to play in the G League. It is clear that those minutes in Greensboro helped prepare him for his recent opportunity and the rookie is showing what he can provide the team.
Williams has impressed those around him in the early going as the team believes he has a bright future ahead. He could spend more time in the G League, but it appears as though he has the tools and skills to eventually make an impact in the NBA.
Williams registered his eighth double-double in the G League on Thursday and neared 30 points to lead Greensboro to a win.
Charlotte Hornets rookie Mark Williams registered his eighth double-double of the season in the NBA G League on Thursday to lead the Greensboro Swarm to a win over the Ignite.
Williams produced 29 points, 17 rebounds, one assist and one steal in the 109-90 win during the G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada. He went 13-of-17 from the field and finished a game-high plus-28 in 28 minutes of work.
The 15th pick dominated in the paint throughout the contest on both ends of the floor. He hauled in seven offensive rebounds and was a constant lob threat after connecting with his teammates on a few alley-oops down low.
Williams has only logged three appearances with the Hornets. He has spent much of the season in the G League and is averaging 22.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 64.8% shooting from the field in 11 appearances with the Swarm.
He is third in the G League in rebounding and seventh in double-doubles.
The stint has given Williams a great opportunity to work on his game. The coverages and schemes can be tough to learn at his position. However, G League affiliates often run the same plays as their parent teams, and Williams can expedite the learning process with the Swarm.
Hornets head coach Steve Clifford last month commended Williams for welcoming the chance to play in the G League. Williams has impressed those around him in the early going as the team believes he has a bright future ahead.
Williams could spend much of the season in a developmental role, but it appears as though the 21-year-old has the tools and skills to eventually make an impact in the NBA.
Williams has played five games in the G League and is averaging 22.8 points, 14.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots with Greensboro.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said this week he believes rookie Mark Williams is making great progress on assignment in the NBA G League with the Greensboro Swarm.
Williams entered the season with an uncertain role as a first-year player on a veteran-heavy team. He has totaled 13 minutes of action across three appearances with the Hornets thus far.
Out of the rotation, Williams knew there was a possibility he could spend time with the Swarm. He has relished the opportunity to play in Greensboro to work on his game and adjust to the NBA.
That has stood out to Clifford in the early going.
The No. 1 thing I like about him so far — and he is big and has a lot of physical attributes that work nicely in this league — is his whole attitude. A lot of guys that have had the college career that he had don’t want to go to the G League. When we sat down and talked to him about it, he was like: ‘That’s what I need.’ He wants to play.
Williams is averaging 22.8 points, 14.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots on 59.5% shooting from the field in five appearances with the Swarm. He has recorded a double-double in each game and is second in the G League in rebounding.
He has been dominant down in the paint and has crashed the glass on both sides. Williams also has provided a great lob threat given his size and athleticism. He had a game-winning layup on Nov. 11 and a 31-foot 3-pointer the next night to force overtime at the buzzer.
The stint with the Swarm has given Williams a great opportunity to work on his game. The coverages and schemes can be tough to learn at his position. However, G League teams often run the same plays as their parent teams, Williams can begin that adjustment now.
Clifford explained what areas Williams is working on.
The five-man, to me, is the toughest adjustment (in the NBA) to the way we’re playing now because of the pick-and-roll. You don’t get pick-and-roll in college that is even remotely similar to what you get in the NBA. Not because of the coaching but because of the talent level of the guys handling the ball in rolling. He knows he needs reps with that stuff. He is working hard. He is going to be able to shoot 3s. He works with (assistant coach) Bruce (Kreutzer) every day. He is making really, really quick progress.
Williams could spend much of the season in a developmental role as he makes the transition to the NBA. He has the tools to eventually crack the rotation but could play with the Swarm in the meantime to log consistent minutes.
Williams has logged two appearances in the G League and has put up two dominating performances with the Greensboro Swarm.
Charlotte Hornets rookie Mark Williams has logged two appearances in the NBA G League and put up two dominating performances with the Greensboro Swarm.
Williams debuted with the Swarm on Friday in their regular-season opener, recording 20 points, 15 rebounds and one blocked shot in a win over the Delaware Blue Coats. He went 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.
The 15th pick followed that with another 20-15 effort: 22 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in a loss to Delaware. He hauled in four offensive rebounds in that contest and shot 9-of-11 from the field to cap a strong start in Greensboro.
Williams proved dominant down low during his first two games with the Swarm. He was active on the glass: He cleaned up misses and provided a lob threat in the paint. On defense, Williams helped control the paint and alter shots.
The 20-year-old entered the season with an uncertain role on a veteran Hornets team. The team didn’t prioritize minutes for rookies last season and that could once again be the case with Williams this year as the Hornets look to make the playoffs under Steve Clifford.
Williams could spend much of the season in a developmental role as he makes the transition to the NBA. He has the tools to eventually crack the rotation, but could play with the Swarm in the meantime to log consistent minutes.
Williams is the second player from the rookie class to sign with the company, joining top pick Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic. They join a star-studded roster signed to Jordan Brand, including Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson.
He was selected with the 15th pick after a strong sophomore season alongside Banchero at Duke. Williams was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 39 games. He ranked fifth in the country in total blocks (110).
Williams will have the opportunity to play as a Jordan-endorsed athlete on a team that the Hall of Famer runs as team governor. Jordan, as an alumnus of North Carolina, was famously excited to add Williams, even though he went to Duke.
Williams has played sparingly with the Hornets to begin the season, logging six minutes over two appearances. He played some during the preseason and averaged 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field in five games.
As a first-round pick, Williams was likely the target of several apparel companies and the 20-year-old opted to sign with Jordan Brand, becoming the latest player to join the iconic company.
