© Jason Parkhurst/Imagn
In another timeline, Mark Williams is leading the Los Angeles Lakers on a lengthy and successful NBA playoff run. Instead, both Williams and the Lakers are now at home on the couch watching, and Williams is taking plenty of satisfaction over that on social media.
Los Angeles initially traded for Williams in February, sending rookie Dalton Knect the other way and hoping Williams could fill the massive void the Lakers had at center. But the deal was later called off after the LA stated that Williams failed his physical due to chronic knee injuries. That sent Williams back to Charlotte and brought Knecht back to the Lakers.
“My agent told me [that the trade was rescinded],” Williams said after the move fell apart. “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 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% since. So, I don’t know what went into that decision. I think that’s up to them.”
Mark Williams Took Plenty Of Joy In Los Angeles Lakers’ Elimination From Playoffs
But Williams is clearly still a bit irked by how everything went down. The 23-year-old took to both X and Instagram on Wednesday night to seemingly celebrate Los Angeles getting bounced from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
🙂
— Mark Williams (@MarkWi1liams) May 1, 2025
Mark Williams on IG celebrating the Lakers’ downfall: pic.twitter.com/aiCVP5lCW3
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 1, 2025
Coincidentally, Los Angeles’ biggest issue in the series was its lack of size and rebounding, something Williams excels at. Lakers centers Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt combined for just 27 rebounds across the five games, or 5.4 rebounds per game between the two of them.
So while Williams also missed the playoffs in Charlotte, he definitely got the last laugh in this one.