Nets rookie Terrence Williams has grown up a considerable amount over the course of his first NBA season.

"I learned you have to keep your mouth shut," Williams said. "Honestly, that's it. Because you get further with silence than you do speaking out or acting out. The lesson taught to me was to pay attention to other guys, and learn from them. I really wasn't ready for that."

Williams wasn't ready for the bizarre shifts the team had undergone this season: "Going from playing under Coach (Lawrence) Frank to not playing, that was hard for me to adjust to."

He also admitted that he didn't accept his role in New Jersey right out of the gate.

"I didn't handle it well," he said. "I should have taken (the role reduction) for what it was, and just learn. Once I started to be quiet and not come late and get fined all the time ? just being a grown-up, and being a man about the situation ? that distraction was lifted. I started to see things in the game that I wasn't seeing before."

"And when you play, it's easier to get back to your game, and do what you know what you do well ? what you love to do," he added. "So things started to gradually change, and I just ran with it."