How did the Grizzlies’ newcomers perform in preseason opener?

Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick Ziaire Williams was quiet, but fit in on Tuesday

Ziaire Williams didn’t have the same type of all-around performance that Steven Adams did on Tuesday, finishing the game with just four points on Thursday. That said, Williams was a couple of odd plays away from having ten points.

Those odd plays involve Williams stepping out of bounds in the corner twice, draining two perfect-looking three-pointers in the process. As a result, instead of being 2-for-3 from the three-point line with just a single turnover, Williams finished the game 0-for-1 from the three-point line with three turnovers.

I’m saying all of this to make a simple point — Williams looked really good on Tuesday night.

He wasn’t the greatest playmaker or rebounder, securing just a single assist and a single rebound on the night. That said, nobody expects him to be either of those things.

He did look pretty strong defensively, recording a steal on the night. That said, we didn’t really have a strong enough sample size to see if he can make a huge impact, especially as a perimeter defender.

Overall though, this was a promising preseason debut from the Grizzlies’ 2021 first-round pick. At barely 20 years old, Williams should only continue to improve as the season goes on.