Williams had another injury-riddled season in 2023-24, and staying healthy has been a significant issue for the Duke product in his first two years in the NBA. Williams was limited to just 43 appearances (17 starts) in his rookie year, but his sophomore campaign saw him log a mere 17 appearances -- and zero after Dec. 8. Making things even more complex is the fact that Williams surpassed the 30-minute mark in just three of those 17 contests, so he can't be counted on to see heavy minutes even when starting regularly. Williams is expected to be ready for training camp and be healthy for the start of the 2024-25 campaign, but fantasy managers should approach him with caution due to his injury history. If healthy, though, Williams' size makes him an imposing defensive presence, and his evolving offensive game allows him to be a solid threat at both ends. Williams averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in his 17 appearances during the 2023-24 season, so fantasy managers could use a mid-to-late flyer on him, perhaps moving toward the latter rounds due to the aforementioned injury history. Williams can be a valuable asset in fantasy due to his two-way impact, but his upside will be limited if he's playing fewer than 25 minutes per game. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a two-year, $7.63 million contract with the Hornets in July of 2022. Hornets exercised $4.09 million team option for 2024-25 in October of 2023. Hornets exercised the $6.28 million team option for 2025-26 in October of 2024.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary
Mark Oluwafemi Williams was born Dec. 16, 2001 in Norfolk, Virginia. His older sister, Elizabeth, played at Duke from 2011-2015 and plays for the Washington Mystics at the time of Mark being drafted. Williams was a four-star center in high school and played three years at Norfolk Academy before transferring to IMG Academy ahead of his senior season. He was a 2020 McDonald's All-American and was chosen to participate in the 2020 Jordan Brand Classic before the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams committed to Duke in 2019 and played for the Blue Devils during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He started in 15 of 23 appearances as a freshman and averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. However, he took on a larger role during the 2021-22 campaign and averaged 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game while serving exclusively as a starter. He declared for the NBA Draft on April 18, 2022. He was selected by the Hornets with the 15th overall pick.
ANALYSIS Williams' continued activity is a good sign, but he's still a few hurdles away from being cleared for game action. With Nick Richards (ribs) sidelined indefinitely, the Hornets need all the help they can get, though Williams will presumably be limited upon his return. He's yet to play this season, played only 19 regular-season games last year and made 43 regular-season appearances as a rookie in 2022-23.
2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Starting/Off Bench
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Days Rest
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Vs Opp
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - By Result
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Advanced Stats
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2023
2022
Stat Review
How does Mark Williams compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
Effective Field Goal %
A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
3-Point Attempt Rate
Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
Free Throw Rate
Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
Offensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Defensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Total Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Assist %
An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
Steal %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
Block %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
Turnover %
An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
Usage %
An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
Fantasy Points Per Game
NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
Fantasy Points Per Minute
NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
67.5%
Effective Field Goal %
64.9%
3-Point Attempt Rate
0.0%
Free Throw Rate
42.4%
Offensive Rebound %
16.3%
Defensive Rebound %
24.6%
Total Rebound %
20.4%
Assist %
6.8%
Steal %
1.4%
Block %
3.7%
Turnover %
7.7%
Usage %
0.0%
Fantasy Points Per Game
30.9
Fantasy Points Per Minute
1.2
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Total
Per Game
Per 36
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
How are these ratings calculated?
Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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NBA Per Game Historical Fantasy Stats
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NBA Per 36 Historical Fantasy Stats
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Historical ADP
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Hornets Depth Chart
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Average Fantasy Points are determined when Mark Williams was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
Minutes
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo
FantasyDraft
Head2Head
Sorare
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
Williams put together an encouraging rookie season, with most of his production coming toward the back of the year. The Hornets began the campaign with Mason Plumlee as their starting center, eventually moving on from him via a trade to the Clippers. From that point, Williams assumed the starting role most nights, doing what many had hoped since he was taken with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft. In just 19.3 minutes per game, Williams ended as the 128th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 9.0 points on 63.7 percent shooting from the floor, adding 7.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. Should he land the starting role for his sophomore season, his playing time should increase appropriately, meaning the top 120 should be considered his floor. He doesn't have the block upside of someone like Walker Kessler, but he should be able to flirt with 1.5 swats per game while rolling out consistent double-doubles. The lack of name recognition should work in his favor regarding ADP, likely placing him outside the top 100 in many spots. Anyone who misses out on an elite big man earlier in the draft should certainly consider Williams anywhere in this range.
The Hornets chose Williams with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. During his second and final season at Duke in 2021-22, he averaged 11.2 points on a whopping 72.1 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, 7.4 rebounds (2.6 offensive) and 2.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes. The center was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also claimed Third Team All-ACC honors. Though Williams struggled with his shot in five Summer League games (44.1 percent), he demonstrated his rebounding and defensive upside with 7.4 boards and 2.4 combined blocks-plus-steals in 19.4 minutes. His smooth and explosive athleticism and 7-foot-7 wingspan should translate to the NBA right away, and good offensive rebounding is always a nice bonus. The quality free-throw shooting will also help keep him on the court and help fantasy managers, and he may possess some perimeter shooting upside given his proficiency. Even if that doesn't develop and Williams is limited to being a pick-and-roll big on offense, he'll be a great lob target. He should have an opportunity to contribute immediately as a rookie in Charlotte. His main competition is Mason Plumlee, who saw just 24.6 minutes per game last season. P.J. Washington may also spend some time at center, but he projects as the team's starting power forward and should see most of his minutes there. Fantasy managers who want to take a gamble at the end of a draft on a shot-blocking big can look to Williams, though he's probably best suited for deeper formats as a rookie. There could be a true payoff in dynasty/keeper formats as soon as next year with Plumlee's contract expiring.
More Fantasy News
Likely several days away from debut
CCharlotte Hornets
Foot
November 2, 2024
Hornets head coach Charles Lee said Friday that Williams (foot) remains limited to participating in individual workouts, James Plowright of SI.com reports.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Still out against Boston
CCharlotte Hornets
Foot
October 31, 2024
Williams (foot) won't play in Friday's game versus the Celtics.
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Team option picked up
CCharlotte Hornets
Foot
October 30, 2024
The Hornets exercised Williams' (foot) fourth-year team option for the 2025-26 season Wednesday.
ANALYSIS Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Another absence coming
CCharlotte Hornets
Foot
October 29, 2024
Williams (foot) is out for Wednesday's game versus the Raptors.
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Remains sidelined
CCharlotte Hornets
Foot
October 26, 2024
Williams (foot) won't play in Saturday's game versus the Heat.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Longest injury duration
CCharlotte Hornets
November 5, 2024
Williams -- who has dealt with extended back and foot injuries -- has not suited up for an NBA contest in 333 days, representing the current longest duration a player has been sidelined league-wide, per HoopsHype.com.
ANALYSIS Williams' ongoing battle with a strained tendon in his left foot is a day-to-day affair, so a return could be on the horizon. Nonetheless, Robert Williams returning from a series of knee injuries Monday pushes the former Williams to the top of the list. Charlotte has received only 62 appearances from Williams since drafting him 15th overall in 2022.