By Matt Rochinski, hornets.com
2015-16 Review | Marvin Williams
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Tipping Off
Prior to his second season in Charlotte, Marvin Williams had a good feeling. After a summer of working out at Time Warner Cable Arena to improve his game and having a year under his belt with Head Coach Steve Clifford, Williams told me on 2015 Media Day that he had a feeling something good was coming, not only for him, but for the Hornets as well. Williams couldn’t have been more right, as he put together arguably the best season of his 11-year career, averaging 11.7 points and career highs in rebounds (6.4) and three-pointers made (1.9) while playing in 81 games for the Hornets and helping lead Charlotte back to the NBA Playoffs, where they fell in seven games to Miami.
“This has been probably the most fun year I’ve ever had in my career,” said Williams at season’s end. “I played with a great group of guys – very fun to play with and very fun to be around. We spend a ton of time with each other on and off the court. It’s been fun playing for this coaching staff, I’ve learned more and obviously had a better year personally, which has been fun as well.”
Mr. Versatile
While posting a career year, Williams also established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league, while missing just one contest and starting 81 times while playing both the three and four positions for Charlotte. On the season, Williams totaled 948 points, 521 rebounds and 152 three-point field goals to become the first Charlotte player since Jamal mashburn (2000-01) to total at least 900 points, 500 rebounds and 80 three-point field goals in a single season. Williams had a career-high 10 double-doubles on the season, which was more than he had in the last four seasons combined (2011-12 – 2014-15, eight).
Long-Range Respect
The Hornets connected on 873 three-pointers in 2015-16, ranking first all-time in Charlotte NBA history. Charlotte connected on 10-or-more treys in 52 games after only hitting the double-digit mark in 25 total games from 2010-11 through 2014-15. Williams was second on the team beyond the arc, connecting on the third-most threes (152) for a forward in a single season in Charlotte NBA history. Glen Rice (1996-97, 207 and 1995-96, 171) is the only Charlotte forward to have hit more threes in a season.
Good Company
With his 152 three-pointers and 521 total rebounds in 2015-16, Williams put himself in the company of only four other NBA players who totaled at least 150 treys and 500 boards this season: Kevin Durant – OKC, Paul George – IND, James Harden – HOU and Kevin Love – CLE. Williams had the highest three-point percentage (.402) of those players and became the first player in Charlotte NBA history to grab 500+ rebounds and drop over 150 treys in a season.
Consistent Performer, Playoff Setback
Williams was the portrait of consistency for the Hornets in 2015-16, averaging double-digit scoring in six of the seven months. He struggled a bit in December, averaging 7.9 points through 14 games, but bounced in 2016, tallying 13.3 points per contest in 50 games and only had three games in which he scored under five points in that stretch. However, Williams regressed in the playoffs while fighting through a right elbow injury and was held scoreless in three of the seven games in the series and only reached double digits in Game 3 (12 points) and Game 5 (17 points). For the series, he averaged 5.1 points and 6.9 rebounds as Charlotte pushed Miami to the brink of elimination.
“I think we showed what we were made of (in the playoffs). I think at the beginning of the year, I’m not really sure how many people believed in us,” said Williams. “At the end of the day, that doesn’t matter because everybody in that locker room believed in us and believed in ourselves. We really came out and competed this season. We fought through a lot of adversity, losing one of our best players at the beginning of the season in MKG… We got a couple of great wins and put ourselves in the position to advance, but take your hat off to Miami, they came in and did what they were supposed to do, but its definitely something to build on. I told the guys in Game 7 when we were down pretty big, ‘We have to learn from this experience.’ I’m sure everybody will learn from it, and hopefully when we’re in that position again – up 3-2 at home, we’ll take advantage of it.”
2016-17 Outlook
Williams enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but like a handful of Hornets on the roster at season’s end, he hopes to return to the Hornets locker room as a veteran leader both on and off the court in Charlotte.
“There’s no question that I want to return,” Williams said in his exit interview. “Obviously anything can happen in free agency. It’s basketball and there is a business side as well, but I will let it be known right now that I do want to return and play with these guys. I want to play for Coach Cliff again.”