Memphis Grizzlies: Grading the team’s rookies at 2021-22 midpoint

Ziaire Williams looks to be a perfect fit for the Grizzlies

The 20-year-old out of Stanford has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief tenure in the NBA halfway through his rookie season.

The 6’9″ guard/forward has been getting better and more confident as the season goes on. You can tell the game has started to slow down for Williams ever since coming back from his left ankle injury, suffered Dec. 6 at Miami. He was out for a month before he was able to come back and contribute.

Since his return, Williams has been on an incredible hot streak and appears to have turned a corner in his development.

In the five games since his return, Williams is averaging 11.4 points per game and shooting better than 50% from the field. He’s been just as good beyond the arc, too. He’s 9-20 from beyond the arc since his return (45%).

He was spectacular against Golden State Jan. 11, scoring 17 points—  the second-most points he’s scored in his young NBA career.

Williams will have a chance to go off while starter Dillon Brooks is sidelined with an ankle injury that will likely keep him out of action for the next several weeks.

Grade: A-