Mark Williams #5 of the Charlotte Hornets takes a shot against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena on February 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Just hours before the Charlotte Hornets visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night in the NBA, Mark Williams remained miffed.
The Charlotte center was dealt to the Lakers prior to the trade deadline before Los Angeles rescinded the deal 48 hours later, apparently due to issues pertaining with Williams’ physical.
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READ: NBA: Hornets challenging Mark Williams’ failed physical
The Hornets reportedly asked the NBA to look into the Lakers’ rationale in scrapping the deal. Williams had missed time with a foot injury earlier this season but was now healthy and had played in 23 games.
The reversal meant that Williams was in the visiting locker room in Los Angeles openly discussing a highly odd situation before his first on-court appearance since the trade.
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“My agent told me,” Williams told the Charlotte Observer of how he learned the trade has been rescinded. “I didn’t think I had failed my physical. That didn’t even cross my mind. The night I got traded I played hella minutes. I didn’t think in any world that was possible.
READ: NBA: Lakers land center Mark Williams in trade with Hornets
“Since I’ve been back since the start of the year, I’ve played games with a lot of minutes. I feel like every injury I’ve had has been well-documented and I’ve recovered and been 100 percent since. So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them.”
Williams played in 30 or more minutes in eight straight appearances before receiving 25 minutes of action in his last game before the trade on Feb. 5.
Charlotte was slated to receive Cam Reddish, rookie Dalton Knecht and a first-round pick in the deal for Williams.
There have been some suggestions that the Lakers might have gotten cold feet and felt they had overpaid for Williams.
Williams, 23, is averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this season. In three seasons with Charlotte, Williams has been limited to 85 games (56 starts) due to injuries.
Williams certainly saw the irony that his return game with the Hornets comes against the Lakers.
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“Can’t write it any other way, right?” Williams said. “NBA script. It’s just what it is.” –Field Level Media
