Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. David Richard-Imagn Images

Have Hornets found their center of the future?

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 12:42 PM ET

In what has been a lost year for the Charlotte Hornets, there have been a few bright spots and recent developments over the last week.

Second-year guard Nick Smith has been inserted into the starting lineup and has made the most of it, averaging 14.3 points per game in his first three career starts.

The biggest development of all though, has been the emergence of Mark Williams as Charlotte's center of the future.

Williams has shown flashes but has not been able to stay healthy for a full season, with 43 games in the 2022-23 season being the most he's played. He missed the first 22 games of this season, but since his season debut he is averaging a career-high 15.7 points.

Over the last five games, Williams is averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds, including a career high 38 in Wednesday's loss against the Grizzlies, his second 30-point game of the stretch, which also includes a 19-point, 19-rebound double-double.

Mark Oluwafemi Williams has been going OFF for the Hornets in his last 5 games.

25.0 PPG
14.0 RPG
1.0 SPG
1.4 BPG
65.3% FG

UNREAL numbers by the center.#NBAAfrica #NBANigeria pic.twitter.com/8YSY1SCVND
— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) January 23, 2025

Some point guard and center duos just have a special connection and that is certainly the case with Williams and Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball.

Ball and Williams run the pick-and-roll game better than most duos in the league and it more often than not puts Williams in position to succeed and have an efficient game.

.@MarkWi1liams with a new career high of 36 PTS@drpepper | @FDSN_Hornets pic.twitter.com/JMMgVy9Rrb
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 23, 2025

Head coach Charles Lee had great things to say about Williams' career performance against Memphis.

"Mark is an ultimate team guy and he's trying to do everything he can to impact winning." said Lee. per Ali Jawad of Sports Illustrated

️ Mark Williams: "In the second half, we turned up the intensity as a team... we just gave ourselves a chance to fight."

"(My confidence) is continuing to go up every game. Credit to my teammates for trusting me, trusting me with the ball and being able to make plays..." pic.twitter.com/23JsuMMdoj
— /r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) January 23, 2025

The rest of the 2024-25 season will be full of growth and development between Williams and the rest of the Hornets young core.

With a record of 11-29 and no hope of the playoffs, building chemistry and staying healthy for the remainder of the season will be important for Charlotte's progress towards taking the next step and reaching the playoffs next season.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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