Grizzlies' Vince Williams Jr. issues statement on career night vs Heat

On a night where star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled mightily with his offensive game (15 points on 23.8 percent shooting), the Memphis Grizzlies were forced to rely on supporting cast members to pick up the slack on this end of the floor as they looked to extend their win-streak to two games in a bout against the Miami Heat.

Fortunately, many of their players answered the call to action, with six of their nine active participants dropping double-digit points en route to the team's 105-96 road triumph.

However, leading both teams on the night in the scoring department was sophomore wing Vince Williams Jr. who surprisingly paved the way with a career-high 25 points while shooting a mesmerizing 80.0 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from distance.

Though most known for his defensive efforts, it was his play on the more glamorous side of the ball that caught the attention of fans and media alike, and, when asked what the driving force has been in his uptick in offensive production, the 23-year-old issued an honest and encouraging take on the matter.

Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. opens up on career scoring night

"I feel like everybody got to [score] at a high level right now. Coach emphasizes defense for me and I feel like I've been doing a good job on that end and, honestly, the defense leads to my offense."

- Vince Williams Jr.

Though Wednesday may have set a new career mark for him, since guys like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart started to fall out of the rotation as a result of injuries, Williams has found himself on an absolute offensive tear.

Over his last nine outings, the second-year pro has boasted sensational two-way averages of 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and just shy of a block while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor and 47.9 percent from deep.

Following his signing with the Grizzlies to a multi-year deal pact on January 10, its evident that Williams is proving to be worth every penny spent.

Hopefully, this sensational level of play can continue as we enter the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.