It doesn’t disturb Patrick Williams.
A 3-point dagger to crown a 25-point comeback against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday? The 19-year-old was unmoved.
How about a 52-foot effort to beat the third quarter bell in Saturday’s victory over the Sacramento Kings?
“It was a 3,” said Williams after the game, his face straight as an arrow. “I’ve done 3s before.”
In fact, the biggest thrill Williams had all night was when, when answering a question about Zach LaVine’s All-Star candidacy, LaVine looked sideways at him, nudging the novice with a light heart.
“We’ll have to see,” he said, with the smallest of smiles, when asked what it would take for him to be emotional during a game. “I’m not sure.”
“I’m not sure. He’s exactly the type of person I am, off the court too,” Williams said of his balance. “I can’t explain it. That’s just who I am and how I am.”
LaVine was quick to provide a fact check on this.
“Only on the court does he show no emotion. It’s crazy, “he said of Williams.” Outside the court, he is more silly than ever. He asks a lot of questions, jokes, laughs a lot, always wants the older guys in the locker room to tell stories about the NBA and other things. “
“On the court, he’s as cold as a stone, his face serious. That’s just his personality.”
And it served Williams well in the midst of a dizzying transition for professionals. Without the benefit of a full training camp or preseason, he started 28 of the Bulls’ 29 regular season games (one missing due to an injury). He took on defensive elite assignments and faced stretches of ups and downs as an experienced veterinarian.
On Saturday, he posted his second double-double career and his rebound record (11) in his eighth game starting in place of injured Lauri Markkanen as a striker. On Monday night in Houston, he is ready to play his 29th NBA game, just like he played in a year in the state of Florida.
“The body is fine. I kind of learned to have a daily routine, just rehabilitating myself, making sure that your body is fine, even if it doesn’t hurt, and if something hurts, just take care of it.” he said. “Make sure you are trying to be as close to 100% as possible to be there doing your job every night.”
And about the NBA’s turbulent schedule, which has the Bulls in the middle of 17 games in 31 days: “The energy is totally mental.”
Does that sound like the youngest player in the NBA?
Well, he is. The varied tools and skill set he designed, combined with his steel mindset and willingness to learn, must keep the Bulls and their fan base excited about their future.
For Williams, it’s the next game.
“I’m in this league as a rookie and the only thing I don’t have is experience,” he said. “It is good to know that this happens every day or every day.”
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