Eight weeks removed from sports hernia surgery, Mavs point guard Deron Williams said on Friday he expects to be ready for training camp, which starts in late September.

“I had my sports hernia repaired, so now I’m pretty much fully cleared, but I’m taking it slow and trying to get back in shape, and trying to get back to where I need to be,” Williams said. “But I should be a full go for training camp. That’s almost exactly a month away from now.”

Williams, 32, started 63 games last season in Dallas, averaging 11.9 points and 5.8 assists per game. He was one of the league’s most clutch performers, as well: Of the 21 players who scored at least 100 points in the clutch last season (last five minutes of a game, score within five points) Williams was the only player to shoot above 50 percent from the field. He was also the lone shooter in the group to connect on more than half of his three-point attempts.

His campaign came to an awkward end, however, as a sports hernia injury sidelined him for eight games in March and April and, after scoring 13 early points in an inspired performance in Game 2 of the playoffs, Williams’ postseason came to an abrupt, early close.

But, as the 11-year veteran said last week, the hernia should not bother or limit him heading into training camp, which should certainly help his team. Both members of last season’s starting backcourt, Williams and Wesley Matthews, are returning for the 2016-17 campaign, which should help this team jell perhaps quicker than it did in 2015, when Williams, Matthews, and Chandler Parsons were all severely limited during the entire preseason. The Mavs have no real injury issues at the moment, as Williams, Devin Harris, and J.J. Barea all ought to be healthy in time for camp.

Speaking of his new teammates, there’s one in particular, Andrew Bogut, that Williams is happy to welcome to Dallas.

“I’ve always been a fan of Andrew. He’s definitely a player that a point guard like myself would love to play with,” Williams said. “He sets screens, he can pass, he’s a great pick-and-roll player. You know what he can do on the defensive end. I’m definitely excited to play with him.”

The Australian center’s presence on both ends of the floor will be something all his teammates will soon speak very highly of, if they haven’t already. And between Bogut and Dirk Nowitzki, Williams will have no shortage of pick-and-roll options when playing alongside the starters. Even Harrison Barnes played some screen-roll for the Golden State Warriors last season, so Williams will have plenty of help in that department this year.

All of that is still ahead of the team, however. Between now and then, he and some of his teammates will bond — and battle — in a dodgeball tournament open to the public, benefiting his Point of Hope Foundation. Williams said he’s got another couple small vacations planned in between now and late September, but with his kids having started school and the season approaching, it’s soon to be all business for the point guard.

And he should be ready to go when that time comes.

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