Ziaire Williams, after spending two seasons with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, will get a chance to play competitive basketball this season for the Los Angeles Lakers after signing a veteran minimum contract this offseason. Considering that the Lakers are in dire need of some help on the wings following the departures of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart, just to name a few, Williams may have to step into a huge role — perhaps even starting for the team alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

There's been plenty of optimism surrounding Williams during training camp, with many Lakers players lauding his work on the defensive end. Williams, for his part, is not shying away from any matchup or any role. He told Law Murray of The Athletic that he can take on any defensive assignment the Lakers give him in any scheme.

“There's not really anything I'm not comfortable with. If it's a smaller guy bringing the ball up and pick up 94 (feet) or if it's, you know, a bigger wing who likes to play off the live dribble and jab step, be more physical off the ball. It's all personnel-based, whether they're shooter, drive left, drive right, etcetera. It just depends on the matchup,” Williams said.

Asked Ziaire Williams about his comfort level with different defensive assignments

"There's not really anything I'm not comfortable with" pic.twitter.com/Yn6kUJWBMA

— Law Murray 💀 (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 1, 2026

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Williams better be ready to take on the toughest defensive assignments night after night, as the Lakers will be heavily relying on him and Matisse Thybulle to provide some cover for their perimeter defense.

Playing alongside two high-volume playmakers and shot-creators in Doncic and Reaves should allow Williams to just focus on his role as a defensive stopper and as someone who can make open shots.

And perhaps if Williams continues to impress, he could nail down a starting spot over the likes of Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, or Jake LaRavia. If head coach JJ Redick sees that he can bring the kind of defensive impact they need on a nightly basis, then Williams deserves to get that opportunity.