NBA DRAFT

July 29, 2021

Ziaire Williams

THE MODERATOR: If you can start us off with an opening statement about what you'll bring to your new team, please.

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: Yes. So to my new organization, man, you're going to get a guy who has a team-first mentality, who is willing to sacrifice his body, his time, shoot, almost his soul for the team. This is an unbelievable experience. I'm just so grateful. All glory goes to God, man. This is just amazing, man. I'm super excited to be in this position. I'm going to give the organization my everything, both on and off the court.

Q. Ja Morant, that's going to be your teammate. What do you think about that?

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: Hey, I know if he throws me the lob, I'm going to go up and get it. And vice versa -- if he's in the air, I'm going to throw it up and he's going to go get it. He's an unbelievable talent, super young. I love the energy that the whole organization has, from the front office, the players, the coaches. I feel like I can fit in perfectly as a locker room guy and a young rookie just learning and developing and going and fitting into the system. So I'm super excited to be a part of this organization.

Q. What were your interactions with the Grizzlies when you were going through the process? You mentioned the excitement around the organization, but what were you thinking as far as just coming to Memphis and just being a part of a young core already here with Ja and Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and a couple of guys?

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: Memphis was always one of my favorites from the start. I met Zach (Kleiman) at the Combine. The whole front office, Tayshaun (Prince), everyone, Rich (Cho). I had a workout with them, an individual. I did great. They loved me. I loved the energy that the whole staff gave. It was super fun.

Like I said, this is the perfect organization I feel like for me. I'm super excited. I'm going to give it my all. I'm going to come in with a learning mentality, a work mentality every day, and I'm not going to take it for granted. I appreciate the organization for believing in me and the fans, and I'm going to give them my all.

Q. What are one or two attributes that you can bring to your team your rookie year coming to the NBA?

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: First and foremost, versatility. At 6-9, 6-10, a guy who can space the floor, shoot the three, attack for myself, attack for others, shoot the mid-range. I feel like I can be a threat at all spaces on the offensive end. Coming off screens, cutting, doing whatever. Defense, same way -- switching on screens, guarding guys at my position, smaller guards, maybe bigger players for us. Versatility, man, honestly, on both ends. I feel like they need that a lot in my position over there. I'm willing to be as big of an impact as much as possible for their organization.

Q. With you going to Memphis, you're also going to the first team that gets to nab a rookie that's been in the Playoffs just this last year. Is that a dynamic that gives you excitement and challenges you to step up and work even harder knowing you're on a team that just got out of their first playoff run as a young core?

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: Man, no doubt. I'm a winner. I play the game to win. To come to a team who's right on the edge and has that hunger and the drive to do better, like I said, this is the perfect situation for me. I'm super excited to have this opportunity. It's going to be great to just learn from the vets, learn all the hardships that they went through, the highs and lows. Just come in and work, honestly. I know this is just the start. I still have a lot of basketball left and a lot of things to accomplish I think I'm capable of doing. I'm just being grateful for the moment, seizing the opportunity and just taking advantage of it every day.

Q. I know it probably feels like a dream still being in the NBA and stuff, but is there any particular player that you're looking forward to either playing against or with?

ZIAIRE WILLIAMS: Man, just growing up watching the NBA, you want to play against everybody. It's an honor to play with Ja, with Jaren. It's a good group in Memphis. To play against Kevin Durant, LeBron, Devin Booker, all the greats, it's going to be a hell of an experience, for sure. I'm just now taking it in day by day and just trying to prove to the organization what I can do on the court. Just taking it day by day. I'm super thrilled and excited for this opportunity.