Duke basketball alum doesn't mess around in first NBA start

Mark Williams should now become a double-double machine for the Hornets.
Duke basketball alum doesn't mess around in first NBA start
Duke basketball alum doesn't mess around in first NBA start /
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Now that veteran Duke basketball product Mason Plumlee is with the Los Angeles Clippers as of the Charlotte Hornets' trade-deadline move on Thursday, recent two-year Blue Devil Mark Williams looks like the team's new full-time starting center.

RELATED: List of every Blue Devil currently in the NBA

The 21-year-old, who went No. 15 at the 2022 NBA Draft but spent much of the first few months of the season gaining confidence in the G League, drew his first NBA start on Friday night.

Sure, the Hornets (15-42) fell on the road to former Duke basketball one-and-done Jayson Tatum and his league-leading Boston Celtics (40-16), 127-116. Tatum, a bonafide Most Valuable Player candidate, tallied a game-high 41 points, his 31st game this season with 30 points or more and seventh eclipsing 40.

RELATED: Jayson Tatum jumps one spot in MVP race

But Williams took another big step in validating Charlotte's trust in him as a potential long-term centerpiece down low.

He played 31 minutes, posting the best plus/minus (-3) among Hornets starters while scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Note that Williams had posted a double-double, only the second of his pro career, by the 4:26 mark in the third quarter.

And the 7-foot-1, 240-pound rookie was efficient, shooting 4-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. Add to that his two assists, one block, and zero turnovers.

Through 26 appearances for the Hornets, Williams is averaging 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in only 14.6 minutes per game. Expect all those numbers to rise quickly.

Next up for Mark Williams and the future-building Charlotte Hornets is a home bout against the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets (38-18) and their reigning two-time MVP in the post, Nikola Jokic, at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.


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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.