Brad Stevens might have found another gem. In Boston’s ongoing search for a reliable big man to anchor their playoff rotation, rookie center Amari Williams is starting to flash the kind of potential that turns heads in NBA front offices.
The sample size is small-just 88 total NBA minutes-but the impact? That’s already showing up in big ways.
Let’s dive into what’s driving his early success and why Joe Mazzulla might want to start carving out more minutes for the 6-foot-11 rookie.
Defensive Foundation: Rim Protection That Pops
If you want to earn playoff minutes as a big in today’s NBA, there’s one non-negotiable: rim protection. And Amari Williams is already showing he can be a difference-maker on that end.
Take this sequence: both Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are in foul trouble, so Williams checks into a high-leverage moment. Not exactly the ideal scenario for a second-round rookie.
But what does he do? He immediately makes a game-sealing block.
As Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard scramble to contain Nolan Traore, Williams reads the play, rotates over, and swats the shot with authority. He could’ve blocked it with his elbow.
That kind of instinct and timing doesn’t show up in the box score, but it wins games.
Williams has the physical tools that make scouts salivate-6'11" with a 7'5" wingspan and the kind of bounce that lets him erase mistakes. In one possession, Jerami Grant creates space and gets what looks like a clean look at the rim.
But Amari absorbs the contact, recovers, and sends the shot back. That ability to get bumped off balance, regain your footing, and still come up with the block?
That’s elite-level stuff.
And it’s not just about blocking shots. Williams is showing he can handle complex actions, like the pick-and-roll between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren-a tough cover for any big, let alone a rookie.
Cade can shoot, pass, and manipulate the defense with his size. Duren, meanwhile, is one of the league’s most efficient roll men.
Yet Williams manages to split the difference, staying close enough to bother Cade while also cutting off the lob to Duren. That’s high-level drop coverage, and it’s coming from a player who’s barely scratched the surface.
Drop Coverage: A Rookie Playing Like a Vet
Drop coverage is a staple in today’s NBA, but it’s not easy to master. You’ve got to navigate the space between the ball handler and the roll man, time your contests perfectly, and avoid fouling. Williams is already showing the feel, IQ, and athleticism to make it look easy.
One thing that stands out: he doesn’t bite on fakes. He stays grounded until he’s sure the shot is going up, then explodes to contest. That level of discipline is rare for a rookie, and it’s the kind of thing that earns a coach’s trust quickly.
Offensive Upside: More Than Just a Rim Runner
Defensively, Williams is already carving out a role. But what makes him really intriguing is what he’s starting to show on offense.
In a two-man action with Derrick White, Williams sets a non-traditional screen-nothing textbook, but effective thanks to his sheer size. Jerami Grant gets hung up, Robert Williams is forced to step up, and Derrick White freezes the defense with a ball fake.
That gives Amari a clean runway to throw down a loud two-handed dunk. It’s the kind of play that energizes a building-and signals to the coaching staff that this guy might be ready for more.
There are also flashes of passing ability that suggest Williams could eventually be a short-roll playmaker. In one possession, he catches the ball in the post, fakes over his right shoulder, and drops a slick pass to Hugo Gonzalez.
On another, he delivers a mid-air dime to Payton Pritchard-catching the ball, making the read, and firing to the wing before hitting the ground. That’s not normal for a 6'11" rookie.
That’s vision, coordination, and confidence.
G League Reps, NBA Readiness
Williams has been putting up strong numbers with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine, and those reps are helping him build chemistry and refine his offensive game. Drop coverage on defense is about timing and feel, but offense-especially passing-requires rhythm with teammates. And that’s something that only comes with reps.
One pass in particular stands out: Williams hits Simons with a perfectly timed feed for a clean midrange jumper. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart, efficient basketball. Plays like that don’t just happen-they’re built through reps, trust, and a feel for the game.
The Path Forward
It’s early, but the film doesn’t lie: Amari Williams has a real shot to become a high-level big in this league. He’s got the size, athleticism, and instincts to anchor a defense in drop coverage. Offensively, he’s already showing he can be more than just a lob threat-he can pass, finish, and make smart reads.
For Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics, the next step is simple: keep feeding him minutes. Give him the opportunity to grow within the system, build chemistry with the main rotation, and see how far this thing can go. Because if the early flashes are any indication, Boston might have something special on their hands.
And once again, Brad Stevens might have quietly pulled off another win.