Declaring himself “a little goofball at heart,” Grant Williams has this theory about what can bring a team closer together.
According to Williams, a team that has a lot of characters at their disposal will probably go a long ways once the playoffs starts. That’s his story, and he’s sticking to it.
“I always say it’s a very, very long year, so to bring smiles and light energy allows not only just yourself to get through it, but everyone else around you,” Williams said. “The benefit of this team is I feel like we have a lot of characters that like to have a good time, but also we understand the priorities that we have set before us.”
In his first season with the Mavericks, Williams is known for frequently voicing his opinion in a good way. And in a loud way.
“As much as my voice can be loud and obnoxious at times, I tell people you may hate me at the start,” Williams said. “But eventually you’re either going to say, ‘That’s just Grant and get over it,’ or you’re just going to love it because it’s always going to be there.”
Williams believes 
having a good sense of humor does wonders for a team, and is actually a positive.
“In all honestly, I think it’s huge,” he said. “When you have a team that doesn’t have much personality, you typically see guys just go their own separate ways. You don’t see that connection.
“When you’re able to really communicate both on and off the floor, it allows you not to take things personally and to hold one another accountable, and also being mindful of your surroundings, being mindful of the things that are actually going on and going wrong within the team so you can make adjustments. The best teams I’ve been a part of have that. I think that’s what we’ve got to develop here — a level of consistency and a level of trust of one another to understand that we all have the same goals in mind and we can help each other. Even if there’s individual goals trying to be accomplished, we can help one another get to those goals.”
Williams came to the Mavs on July 12 via a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics. In less than three months with the Mavs, he likes what he’s seen thus far.
“The best part about this organization is everyone’s authentically themselves,” Williams said. “It’s a very kind of calm an
d relaxing, chill organization while also being disciplined and understanding that the priority is winning, but also you can have a good time while doing it.
“Everyone here really supports one another and that’s something that’s really, really been really key in my eyes is that you come in and basically it feels like a family. You feel like each one of us is embraced to be authentically ourselves, and it feels organic. Everyone feels very valued, and it makes sure not only just the top guys get valued, but (the) players top to bottom and it’s been really special to be a part of.”
Williams said he reached out to Mavs guard Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving when he was traded, “Just to understand what they needed from me and if I was valued here and if I was needed. And Kyrie did a phenomenal job of communicating with me and understanding the role, and also the opportunity that was there and what they had in mind.
“This team is asking me to be a leader and is asking me to be a guy that you can look to for consistency, and that’s what I’ve kind of put my mark as.”
After being the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2018 and ’19 for Tennessee, Williams was the 22nd overall pick of the ’19 NBA Draft by the Celtics. Now 24 years old, the 6-6, 236-pounder will be in the starting lineup for the Mavs this season after he helped the Celtics 
to the playoffs in each of his four seasons in Boston, including a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals.
The Mavs missed their first 14 shots from three-point range during Thursday’s preseason opener in Abu Dhabi against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams then responded by drilling back-to-back three-pointers, although the T-Wolves were still able to prevail, 111-99.
“I just want to make sure that I do my job for this team and for coach (Jason) Kidd and for Kyrie and the guys who believed in me and brought me here,” Williams said. “For me, I just really think of every single day as the opportunity to really (have an) impact and (help) make a successful team. That’s the number one thing for me.
“Individually, things will come. Things will come naturally. I always try and tell myself that if you go try and force things and try and prove things to people, you can either go one or two ways. You can either go fall off a cliff or you can stop on that edge, because you’re always going to be thinking about jumping over. So, for me it’s just making sure you do your job because when you’re doing that you can ride along that edge for as long as you want for as long as your career is.”
In the end, the Mavs just want that “little goofball at heart” to help them advance to the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
X: @DwainPrice
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