Williams quickly shook off the rust in his first taste of NBA action, scoring four points and hauling in three rebounds in the opening two quarters. It will take some time for Williams to become fully comfortable with the speed and physicality of the NBA game after his hiatus,

With Williams back into the fold, the Hornets are getting closer to having a full deck of cards again. When healthy, Williams once helped the Hornets rank in the top five for defensive efficiency. His ability to switch one through five could potentially change the outlook of how this team protects the paint or their pick-and-roll coverages.

The Charlotte Hornets center had just wrapped up his latest practice, continuing ramping up his activity levels as he prepares to return from a strained tendon in his foot, an injury that happened more than two months ago. And the expression on Williams’ face easily gave insight into his immediate thoughts.