Deron Williams labels last season with Nets as the most difficult of his career – NBA News
The New Jersey Nets did not have a very good season last year, and Deron Williams acknowledged that recently in an interview, going on to say that the last season was by far the most difficult of his career.
The Nets finished with a 22-44 record last season, failed to make it to the playoffs for yet another year and lost the interest of the fans and the NBA in general.
Williams was with team USA in Barcelona where they are scheduled to play an exhibition game against Spain on Tuesday, and talked to Hoopshype. Answering a question on the disappointing last season, he said;
“Yeah, by far… Yeah, we won 41 games and I played 28 minutes a game as a rookie. Last year was a lot tougher than my first year by far,” said Williams.
In early July, Williams decided to re-sign with the club for five years in a deal that is said to be worth $98 million. But the Nets he re-signed with are very different to the Nets from last season. Firstly, the name is now the
Brooklyn Nets instead of the New Jersey Nets. Secondly, they will play in a newly constructed $1 billion Barclays centre in Brooklyn rather than the old arena in New Jersey. Third and most importantly, the Nets will boast of a roster that is sure to give the
Eastern Conference Heavyweights a run for their money.
The Nets were given an unlimited budget for the offseason by billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, and went on to trade for Joe Johnson, re-sign Williams, Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries while also acquiring C.J.
Watson, Mirza Teletovic and Jerry Stackhouse. The new roster is looking good and is expected to have a far better season than the outing from the last one.
Williams almost did not re-sign with the Nets, as he had a four year offer from the Dallas Mavericks on the table as well. Dallas offered Williams the opportunity to play in his home town alongside superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki,
and many had expected him to sign with the Mavericks all season long. However, the Nets commitment to improving and compiling a competitive roster drew him to return to his club.
“It was good to be able to choose where I wanted to go. But it was very stressful trying to make a decision because I was really torn between two teams,” added Williams.
Williams will compete in the London Olympics scheduled to commence later this month as a member of the team USA basketball roster. A gold medal at the Olympics could be the icing on the cake for Williams, who has so far had a great
summer and is looking forward to having a successful 2012-2013 NBA season.
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