(670 The Score) When his baptism in defending superstar LeBron James in the Bulls’ narrow 117-115 loss to the Lakers was complete Friday night, Chicago rookie forward Patrick Williams had a simple assessment of his own play.
“I got better tonight,” Williams said.
As you’d expect, it was the four-time MVP James who got the better of the 19-year-old Williams, who in just his 10th NBA game – all of them starts – drew the primary assignment of checking the NBA’s third all-time leading scorer. James went for 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 11-of-21 shooting with Williams flanking him for much of the game. Time and again, James barreled into Williams, an experience that left the youngster appreciative of the opportunity.
“I can’t really say much except I got better,” said Williams, the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA Draft in Novemeber. “I got better tonight as a defender, as a player. Just being around him, watching him, guarding him – I got better. In the 10th game of the season, that’s all you can ask for. I took on the challenge. I mean, he is LeBron James, so he’s going to get his. He’s going to get to his spots. But you just kind of got to make him take the tough ones, and he’s making the tough ones.”
While James was his usual efficient and brilliant self on a night that Lakers star big man Anthony Davis was sidelined by injury, the Bulls had high praise for Williams’ effort and work. Coach Billy Donovan and Bulls teammates thought Williams made James earn his buckets, pointing directly to several tough fadeaways that he hit and the need for James to change direction often to get to his spots.
“He did a great job,” Donovan said.
“I said before the game, this is going to be a learning experience for him going through this. But I thought he did a great job competing. He really battled. He did a lot of good things out there. And he’s going to get better from a game like this.”
Williams had six points, eight rebounds and four steals – and also left James impressed. James went as far as to make a comparison to Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, whom many consider the best defensive player in the NBA.
"Long arms,” James said of Williams, according to NBC Sports Chicago reporter Rob Schaefer. “He has Kawhi-type hands that I noticed out on the floor, so I knew I couldn’t play with the ball much. You could tell he’s laser sharp on just trying to get better … Chicago has a good one."
In the aftermath, Williams was left to reflect on what didn’t go right. In one of the biggest plays of the game, James converted a layup to give the Lakers a 116-112 lead with 46.5 seconds left after getting a little daylight on Williams and creating more with his broad shoulders into Williams’ body while on the move.
Williams didn’t like that he let James get going downhill so easily while adding, “He’s a big-time player, so big-time plays were expected to be made.” Then Williams shared his main takeaway.
“I can always do better,” Williams said. “I can always do better. There were a couple plays early where he kind of was able to get to his spots. He was kind of too comfortable, and that led him to be more aggressive, I would say, and to get others open. He’s the type of guy if you let him do it one time, he’s going to keep doing it over and over and over again. So early, I think I could’ve done a better job of just holding resistance. But like I said, it’s a learning experience 10 games. And we got at least 62 more, so it’s just a learning experience.
“The guy I want to be in this league, I want to guard the best players every night. I got better at that tonight, so today was just a stepping stone.”
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.