New Hornets Williams and Curry make immediate impact

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Grant Williams (2), who played high school basketball at Providence Day, didn't think he'd have a chance to play with the Charlotte Hornets until the end of his professional career, but last week's trade from Dallas made it happen earlier.

Charlotte high school stars Grant Williams and Seth Curry are making an impact in their new professional home.

Both were recent additions to the Hornets roster before the NBA trade deadline. Williams, who played at Providence Day School, helped the Chargers to an NCISAA state title in 2016. Curry played a few miles down the street at Charlotte Christian School from 2004-08.

“I am just excited to be here,” Williams said in his first press conference as a Hornet. “I’m excited to be home, be around family, friends and loved ones. And I’m excited to build something here in Charlotte.”

Said Curry: “[Being home] feels good. It’s exciting. Growing up, I obviously always wanted to put that jersey on. Wearing [jersey number 30, like his father Dell with the Hornets] is like a full-circle moment. It’s obviously a little bit of a shake-up getting traded in the middle of the season, but if I wanted to go anywhere, it would be here.”

Curry, younger brother to the NBA’s all-time leading three-point shooter Stephen Curry, grew up watching his dad play at the old Charlotte Coliseum.

Williams said that he didn’t think he would be playing back in Charlotte until the end of his career – but likes how it turned out.

“It’s kind of funny that it happened this way,” Williams said. “It allows you to be a part of something that can be built from the ground up. Under new ownership, a new team, a bunch of guys who are young and talented, you have a chance to build something special here in the city.”

Williams recalled in high school when talks about the Hornets coming back to Charlotte started and how excited the community was.

I remember when “Bring Back the Buzz” was actually a thing,” he said. “I was back in high school at Providence Day. I remember them talking about switching back from the Bobcats. I remember seeing Kemba [Walker] and those guys play. So, it’s really special coming home. It’s a really unique opportunity.”

Neither player has yet to experience losing as a part of the Hornets yet. Charlotte beat the Memphis Grizzlies 115-106 on Feb. 10 and the Indiana Pacers 111-102 on Feb. 12.

Williams and Curry have had a large impact on the Hornets’ recent success. Williams scored 15 points against the Grizzlies and 21 points against the Pacers while being second on the team in plus/minus category – trailing only Curry.

Williams comes off the bench and can play either the power forward or center position. Curry feels that when Williams plays center, it opens opportunities for three-point shots and faster pace.

“Everybody out there can shoot the ball,” Curry said. “With the second unit lineup with Grant at the five, you can spread it out, push the pace and anyone who rebounds it can push it as well. I think one time, they outlet it to Miles [Bridges] and he found me on the wing. That is just easy offense for everybody. We’ve got to continue to do that.”

Curry didn’t have his best game in limited minutes against the Grizzlies, but scored 18 against Indiana, shooting 7-for-11 from the field while dishing out two assists and grabbing two rebounds in just under 19 minutes.
Coach Steve Clifford is pleased with how the newcomers are adjusting and particularly impressed with Curry’s performance against Indiana.

“He can score it in so many different ways,” Clifford said. “He got going in the pick-and-roll game and made a tough shot with his left hand over a taller player. But he has done it a lot. He is a veteran and experienced player. He is a great competitor, and he is a great kid.”

Said Curry: “I think the attitude and energy since the time we got here are resulting in good basketball and back-to-back wins. So, you like to play the right way. The rest of the season should be fun basketball. We might not win every night, but we’ll compete, we’ll have fun and put on a good show.”

Comments