Deron Williams says he was frustrated with the Nets locker room atmosphere last season – NBA News
Deron Williams has openly said that last season was the most difficult he had to face in his NBA career, and it took its toll on him. Williams played hard to give the New Jersey Nets a fighting chance of reaching the playoffs,
but did not have the talent around him to achieve his goal. Instead, the Nets ended the season with a dismal 22-44 record. Williams was understandably frustrated, and there was a point when he had even decided to change teams after the season.
"It was hard. I've never been in that position before. So at times, I've showed frustration, but I think anybody would have. You're getting your asses kicked and then you're in the locker room laughing about the game afterwards.
I don't think that stuff is funny,” said Williams while talking to reporters after the first day of training camp with the Brooklyn Nets.
To add fuel to his frustration was the fact that Williams was on the final year of his contract with the Nets, and had the pressures of free agency looming over his head as well. After initially deciding to join the Dallas Mavericks
in the offseason, Williams was convinced to stay by Nets General Manager Billy King after he promised him a roster overhaul. Williams signed a five year contract extension with the Nets and King lived up to his promise, bringing in Joe Johnson and almost rebuilding
the bench strength from scratch.
“It's a different team. Different year. He doesn't have to talk about trade rumours with other players. So I think his body language has followed the type of attitude that he has and how he feels about this team and this year,”
said Nets Head Coach Avery Johnson.
The Brooklyn Nets, formerly known as the New Jersey Nets, have not made a playoff appearance since the 2006-07 NBA season. Williams himself has not competed in the playoffs since the 2009-10 season, when he was with the Utah Jazz.
However, a massive spending spree by the Nets front office during the summer means they now have the talent to be playoff contenders. With the setting right this time around, Williams might rise to become the All Star point guard that this new team desperately
needs.
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