Patrick Williams was still half asleep every time DeMar DeRozan showed up in the early summer hours to pick him up for their workouts.
That haze left him uncertain of what time it was when the 13-year veteran arrived every morning. One irrefutable fact was that those summer runs started at 5 a.m. and not a minute after. Williams’ regimented schedule was the result of signing up for DeRozan’s summer workout plan in an effort to take the third-year step that can make or break a player’s career.
After playing just 17 games last year — missing five months after tearing ligaments in his left wrist five games into the season — whether Williams feels pressure or not, it’s there.