Williams is part of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against Orlando.
Williams will join the first unit for Wednesday's game, swapping places with Terance Mann. It'll be Williams' fourth start of the season. As a starter, Williams is averaging 11.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals across 25.3 minutes.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Back to bench Friday
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Williams is not in the Nets' starting lineup against the Wizards on Friday.
Williams was moved into the Nets' starting lineup for Thursday's loss to the Rockets, finishing with 14 points, two rebounds and five steals over 27 minutes. He'll come off the bench Friday due to Terance Mann and Egor Demin returning, but Williams should still see a healthy amount of minutes off the bench in the absence of Michael Porter (illness).
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Career-high five swipes in start
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Williams amassed 14 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 6-7 FT), five steals and two rebounds across 27 minutes during Thursday's 120-96 loss to Houston.
With Michael Porter (illness), Terance Mann (hip) and Egor Demin (back) all sidelined in the front end of Brooklyn's back-to-back set, Williams got the starting nod for just the third time this season. The 24-year-old swingman made the most of the opportunity, leading the first unit in points and scoring in double figures for just the second time over his last seven appearances. He also chipped in a game- and career-high five steals, and he has logged multiple steals in six of his 26 regular-season appearances thus far.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Starting Thursday
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Williams will start against the Rockets on Thursday, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
With three of Brooklyn's regular starters sidelined, Williams will enter the first unit after not seeing the floor in either of the Nets' past two games. In two starts so far this season, the 24-year-old forward has averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes per contest.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Available Monday
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Williams (ankle) is available for Monday's game against the Warriors.
Williams was initially deemed probable for this contest but will shed that tag and suit up. The fifth-year forward is averaging 8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game this season.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Probable for Monday
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Williams is probable for Monday's game against the Warriors with a right ankle sprain, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Williams has a mild ankle issue, but he's expected to play through it. Over his last three games, he's averaging 16.9 minutes per contest with 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Records three steals
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Williams registered two points (0-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, one block and three steals over 14 minutes during Sunday's 96-81 win over the Raptors.
Williams hasn't been very involved for the Nets lately, and it's hard to see that changing. Plus, the Nets will be looking to get their rookies more involved down the stretch. Over his last four outings, Williams has averaged 19.9 minutes per contest with 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
Williams provided three points (1-4 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist over 25 minutes during Friday's 119-111 loss to the Mavericks.
Williams scored single digits for the fourth time in the past five games, continuing what has been an unproductive stretch. While he has been an every-night part of the rotation, his playing time fluctuates most nights, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. Through 21 games, Williams is averaging 9.3 points and 1.7 three-pointers in 23.0 minutes per game, well below what standard league managers are looking for.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Chips in 23 points off bench
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Williams tallied 23 points (7-14 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 6-9 FT), one assist, one steal and one block over 28 minutes during the Nets' 123-110 loss to the Jazz on Thursday.
Williams logged just 11 points over his last two outings while coming off the bench, but he was more active on offense during Thursday's contest as he finished as the Nets' second-leading scorer behind Noah Clowney (29 points). It was Williams' highest point total since Oct. 24 against the Cavaliers (25 points), though he's eclipsed the 20-point mark just twice this season.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Back to bench
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Williams will come off the bench Monday against the Hornets.
Williams will retreat to a bench role after making two straight starts. He's averaging 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per contest over his last five appearances off the bench.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Scores 10 points in loss
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Williams finished with 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-8 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes during Saturday's 116-99 loss to the Bucks.
Williams got the start at small forward due to the absence of Michael Porter (back), and while his numbers didn't stand out, he was one of the few Nets players who posted a decent line in a 17-point loss. Williams should return to his role on the bench once Porter is back in the lineup. As of now, his upside is strictly matchup-based since he's not putting good enough numbers to be considered a viable starting option in all fantasy formats -- even if he's a starter.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Scores 10 points in spot-start
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Williams registered 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 30 minutes during Friday's 115-103 loss to Philadelphia.
Williams collected a DNP-CD during Monday's loss to the Knicks, but with Michael Porter (back) needing a rest day, Williams was able to earn a spot start. Unfortunately, he didn't do much with the opportunity, and there's a decent chance Porter will return for Saturday's game in Milwaukee, so Williams' run as a starter will likely be short-lived.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Exits to locker room vs. Minnesota
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Williams (undisclosed) exited to the locker room in the second quarter of Monday's game against the Timberwolves, Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today reports.
The 24-year-old forward headed back to the locker room following a collision with Rudy Gobert. If Williams is unable to return, Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin are candidates for increased playing time the rest of the way.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Cleared for Sunday
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Williams (back) has been cleared for Sunday's game against the 76ers, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
After a two-game absence, Williams is expected back in the rotation Sunday. That could result in fewer minutes for Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin. Sunday's game is the front end of a back-to-back set, and it's possible Williams could have some restrictions.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Ruled out for Wednesday
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Williams (back) won't play Wednesday against the Hawks.
Williams was previously listed as questionable, but he'll miss his second game in a row Wednesday. Presumably, the forward is considered day-to-day. Guys like Tyrese Martin and Jalen Wilson could see increased workloads against the Hawks in Williams' absence.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Ruled out Monday
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Williams (back) will not play Monday against the Rockets, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Williams was unable to return to Sunday's game against the Spurs due to a lower back contusion. His next chance to play comes Wednesday against the Hawks, and fantasy managers can assume he's day-to-day for now. The Nets are likely to use a committee approach to soak up his minutes.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Won't return Sunday
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Williams (back) won't return to Sunday's game against the Spurs due to a lower back contusion.
Williams exited Sunday's game after injuring his back on a hard fall in the third quarter. He finished with five points (1-4 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound and one steal in 13 minutes. With the Nets playing again Monday against the Rockets, Williams could have a tough time gaining clearance for the second leg of a back-to-back set.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Puts up 25 points off bench
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Williams notched 25 points (9-13 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds and two steals across 27 minutes during Friday's 131-124 loss to the Cavaliers.
Williams did significant damage from beyond the arc in this one, where he scored 18 of his 25 points on the night. He was far more aggressive Friday after attempting only two triples in Wednesday's season opener against Charlotte. Consistency continues to be a concern for Williams as the 2025-26 season marches on, as he's shown that he's more than capable of catching fire on the offensive end, but he's yet to show that he can do so on a regular basis.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Pops for four threes
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Williams produced 15 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT) and four rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 111-109 preseason win over the Suns in Macao.
The fifth-year forward led the Nets in made threes in an efficient performance with the second unit. Williams is coming off a solid first season with Brooklyn in 2024-25, setting new career highs in points (10.0), boards (4.6), threes (1.6), steals (1.0) and minutes (24.5) per game, and he figures to fill a similar role this season in the team's rotation.
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Nets' Ziaire Williams: Set to return to Brooklyn
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Williams (knee) agreed Monday with the Nets on a two-year, $12 million deal that includes a team option for the 2026-27 season, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Brooklyn declined Williams' $8.35 million qualifying offer over the weekend to make him an unrestricted free agent, but he'll be brought back at a more palatable salary figure in what amounts to a one-year prove-it deal. In his fourth NBA season in 2024-25, Williams emerged as a regular contributor in the Brooklyn rotation, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes per contest over 63 games. He missed Brooklyn's final two games due to right patella tendinopathy, but he should be fully healthy for training camp in the fall.
