Hornets’ Mark Williams Keeping the Faith Despite Team’s Injury Struggles

January 13, 2025

Hornets center Mark Williams is considered an under-the-radar big man who has shown flashes of greatness when healthy. But like Charlotte, he still has a little way to go before arriving.

The Hornets (8-28) appear to be headed for yet another year of missing the playoffs, and for any NBA player, the losing isn’t easy. It can take a real toll. Williams is keeping a positive mindset.

“I think we’re doing a lot of good things, but we’re not getting over that hump of getting a win,” Williams said in an exclusive interview with Spencer Davies of RG.org. “It’s been tough, for sure. There’s definitely a lot of flashes of good things we’re doing. I think the next step for us is doing that for a longer period of time and long enough to get a win.”

As Davies wrote, while the Hornets’ record may not reveal it, there’s a sense of belief under first-year coach Charles Lee. While they’ve been around for a while, it’s almost as if the Hornets are starting an entirely new program, with head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and Lee building from the ground up.

Looking at it that way, things may not be as bad as they seem. But getting to where you want to go? Well, it helps if you can stay healthy — and that seems to have eluded the Hornets.

As Davies wrote: “It’s been anything but easy in Buzz City so far, as injuries have popped up left and right to key players and contributors throughout. Key addition Grant Williams was lost for the year less than a month into the campaign. (Miles Bridges), LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller have already missed 34 combined contests as well.

“That makes it difficult for any team, especially a young group like the Hornets, to maintain any type of continuity or rhythm.”

On the bright side, Williams, 23, is back on the court after his own injury issues.

“Obviously, the more and more you play, the more comfortable you get,” Williams told Davies. “I’m obviously starting to play more now — more minutes, more continuity as far as my rotations go. So yeah, I feel more comfortable every game.”

You can check out the full feature on Williams here at RG.org.