Deron Williams acknowledge for the first time on Wednesday that his weight gain was an issue last season. Williams finished last season strong after dropping the extra weight.

“It’s a good lesson learned,” said Williams. “Especially as you get older, your metabolism starts to slow down. It’s definitely harder to get that weight off. There was no weight gain this summer for me. I tried to stay at the same weight I was when I left. That’s been helpful.”

It is subjective whether Williams' extra weight contributed last season's ankle injury.