The Los Angeles Lakers have only had Ziaire Williams for two of their five preseason games, but his ability to play off the ball and defend at the point of attack are already standing out. Williams had 14 points in 11 minutes against the Denver Nuggets in the preseason finale. He was defending Jamal Murray and applying pressure in the backcourt. Williams is comfortable spotting up and has already made some fantastic cuts.
The Lakers had interest in Jonathan Kuminga, but his problems are well-documented. He struggles to space the floor, wants the ball in his hands, and has issues making the right plays. It is why the talented 24-year-old is on his third franchise in two seasons. Kuminga has all the tools and athleticism to be a star, but the Lakers don’t need that.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are LA’s star duo of the present and future. Los Angeles needs a role player who can guard the opposing ball-handler and find other ways to impact the game. Williams is doing just that.
Ziaire Williams is impacting the offense without the ball
Williams has no issues standing in the corner and waiting for an open look. Luka is one of the best creators in the world. He will get whoever is on the floor easy shots. Williams’ smart cutting is already paying dividends for the purple and gold.
Luka ➡️ Ziaire pic.twitter.com/Wx0Bz7QHiH
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 17, 2026
If a teammate is open, Doncic will find them. The offense was stuck in the mud to start the preseason finale with Williams being the lone bright spot. The Nuggets were blitzing Luka and picking up full-court. Ziaire found ways to get open and convert easy looks.
Kuminga needs the ball to score, but Williams doesn’t. He is cutting or spotting up. The 6’9 forward had 27 points in 32 minutes during the preseason. He won’t shoot 75 percent from the field and 100 percent from 3-point range when the games count, but his shooting percentages underscore the easy looks that Williams is getting. Those are from buying into his role and thriving in it.
Ziaire Williams is the point-of-attack defender the Lakers need
Kuminga has shown he can be a stout defender, but his desire for a larger offensive role has often impacted his play on this end. The 6’7 forward has shown flashes, but the Lakers need more than that.
Williams has defended Darius Acuff and Jamal Murray in his two preseason games. His primary assignment has been the point guard, and head coach JJ Redick has him defending 94 feet. Trying to shake a 6’9 forward who picks up full-court isn’t easy. The Lakers clearly want Williams to be aggressive, and he’s doing just that.
It is only preseason and a limited two-game sample. It is impossible to reach any firm conclusions on how Williams’ defense will be, but he is bought into his role and doing exactly what LA needs so far.
Ziaire Williams is happy playing his role and helping the Lakers win
Kuminga didn’t work on the Warriors because head coach Steve Kerr wanted him to be Shawn Marion instead of Kobe Bryant. He joined the Timberwolves over the Lakers because of their “winning culture”. There were never any guarantees Kuminga would have been happy playing his role in LA.
Williams is thriving in it. The shots are falling, and the sample is small, but the Lakers couldn’t have asked for a better preseason when he’s played. The 6’9 forward missed three games with some swelling in his foot. The injury is why he only played 11 minutes in the finale. It was a positive step getting back on the floor. Expect him to play opening night, but there may be a minutes restriction.
Lakers fans shouldn’t be thinking about missing out on Jonathan Kuminga. There is virtually no way JK would have bought into his role as quickly as Ziaire Williams has. He signed a minimum contract to play with Luka Doncic and the Lakers. Williams knew it was a path to get open looks and earn more money. So far, Ziaire looks like a genius and has been the perfect fit. No way things with Kuminga would have been this smooth.
The Lakers lucked out. Kuminga choosing the Timberwolves opened up a larger role for Williams. Now, they have a better fit on a cheaper contract who is helping them win.
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