With the Portland Trail Blazers officially eliminated from play-in contention, fans are now shifting their attention to former Blazers still alive in the postseason hunt. While Damian Lillard is the obvious fan favorite, one under-the-radar name making noise is Dallas Mavericks guard.
Dallas kept their playoff hopes alive with a 120-106 win over the Sacramento Kings. Their next test is against the Memphis Grizzlies, with the winner advancing to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who had a historic regular season. Even with a bold trade deadline move to acquire Anthony Davis, it was far from guaranteed that the Mavericks would get past Sacramento — especially playing on the road and without Kyrie Irving.
However, Dallas used its size advantage to disrupt the Kings, particularly frustrating Domantas Sabonis, who was held to just 11 points. With the Kings’ backcourt needing to carry the load, questions swirled around how Dallas would manage its offense without a traditional point guard in the starting five. Klay Thompson was the lone starting guard, and the concern was whether the Mavericks had enough playmaking to generate offense.
Enter Brandon Williams, who stepped up in a big way. The former Blazer delivered an efficient and poised performance, putting up 17 points, five assists, and zero turnovers. He shot 5-of-8 from the field, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free-throw line — ending the night with a +24 plus/minus. Williams’ unexpected impact gave Dallas the steady hand they needed in the backcourt and a boost Trail Blazers fans can proudly cheer for from afar.
The Blazers gave up on Brandon Williams too soon
It’s hard not to feel a bit of what-if watching Brandon Williams shine in the playoffs—especially through the lens of a Blazers fan. After going undrafted out of Arizona in 2020, Williams signed a two-way deal with Portland and had a promising rookie campaign in 2021-22. In 24 games, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and a steal per game over 26.7 minutes—solid production for a rookie, particularly one who wasn’t even drafted.
But concerns about his size—just 6-foot-1, 190 pounds—and his lack of efficiency held him back. Williams shot only 37.2% from the field and 29.2% from three, which ultimately led to Portland waiving him after just one season.
Fast forward two years, and Williams is proving the Blazers wrong for moving on so quickly. Now with the Mavericks, he’s developed into a consistent, efficient contributor, posting impressive 52/40/83 shooting splits while becoming a steady presence in the backcourt. His growth as both a shooter and playmaker has made him a reliable part of Dallas’s rotation.
And perhaps most notably, he’s proving he can perform under pressure. In the win over Sacramento, Williams stepped up as the X-factor, delivering in a high-stakes moment when Dallas needed someone to take control. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder what could’ve been if Portland had shown a little more patience.