Mark Williams Celebrates After LeBron James Missed Game-Tying 3-Pointer

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams celebrated LeBron James' game-tying missed three-pointer in their 100-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

The Charlotte Hornets picked up a huge 100-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night, executing in the clutch with big shots and some crucial stops. The biggest stops came on LeBron James‘, who missed two game-tying three-pointers to send it to OT.

Those misses gave the Hornets the win, which was celebrated intensely by center Mark Williams. Williams was supposed to be a Laker until the franchise rescinded a trade to acquire him after the deadline, forcing him to return to the Hornets. The center even dapped up Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, who was traded for him in that deal.

LeBron had scored 16 points in the quarter before the final sequence, where the Hornets defenders hustled hard to get contests on LeBron’s audacious jumpers.

Williams put up 10 points (3-7 FG), nine rebounds, and one block in this win. The Hornets center might have begrudgingly rejoined the franchise that traded him away, but he got to make an impression in his first game back. 

Unfortunately, he also got dunked on in a viral poster highlight by LeBron. He got the win, so that’s all that matters. 

Williams is averaging 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks this season and would’ve been a huge help to the Lakers if he was on their squad right now. 

Unfortunately, the Lakers claimed Williams failed the team’s physical before the deal was rescinded. While the Hornets challenged the rescinding of the deal and even threatened legal action, they couldn’t stop the deal from being stopped.

Now, both Williams and Knecht are readjusting to lives with the franchises that traded them away. This was Mark’s first game back with the Hornets, but it was Knecht’s second. He put up 10 points (3-7 FG) and one steal against the team that could’ve been the franchise he represents right now. 


Mark Williams Thought He Passed His Physical

The decision to rescind the Mark Williams trade raised a lot of eyebrows around the NBA. 

Williams has a known injury history which the Lakers had to take into account when they acquired him. He’s healthy right now and has been playing big minutes for the Hornets, which is why he thinks he had passed his physical and doesn’t understand why the trade didn’t go through.

“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. Since I’ve been back at 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% since. So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them.”

“There’s not really much I can do. Like I said, I’ve been playing. You went from shocked to excited, back to shocked. You control what you can control.”

It’s unclear what exactly went wrong in the Lakers’ evaluation of Williams which made them cancel what could’ve been a lucrative trade for them. However, you have to imagine some red flags showed up in the physical regarding Williams’ long-term health which motivated the decision.

All Williams can do now is continue playing at a high level and likely be dealt in the summer now that the Hornets’ desire to trade him is in the open.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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