SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz rookie Eric Maynor has a new friend.
His name?
Deron Williams.
During this year's training camp, Williams -- Utah's star point guard -- has been looking out for the rookie first-round draft pick. To a few longtime Jazz fans it may seem like just yesterday Williams was the rookie in need of tutoring. But now on the cusp of his fifth NBA season, D-Will figures it's his time to give back.
"Well, you know, I don't feel that threatened," Williams joked Wednesday morning. "I'm in a good state of mind."
All joking aside, Williams said he wants to see Maynor do well.
"You can see that Eric can be a special player," he said. "I'd love to see him succeed."
If Maynor and veteran Ronnie Price can find success in running the team while Williams rests on the bench, it can only help Utah's chances this season.
"The more rest I can get (is important) especially in back-to-back situations," Williams said. "If we can be more consistent as far as our team goes, and be as deep as possible, I think that's important this year because (playing well on back-to-back nights) was such a big problem last year."
Although Price seems to have the early edge to win the No. 2 point guard job, coach Jerry Sloan said nothing has been determined at this early point.
The Jazz will play their first preseason game of the year tonight when they play host to the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena.
Williams figures to start, but Sloan indicated he won't give his regulars too many minutes. That means fans will get their first chance to see Maynor in person.
"I'm excited," Maynor said as a smile inched across his face before Wednesday morning's workout.
"I'm a little over-excited right now," he added. "But as I get on the floor and start running up and down, I'll be OK."
Maynor admitted that after the Jazz first selected him with the No. 20 overall pick in last June's draft, he was awestruck. But after going through rookie camp, summer league and now training camp, he said he's focused on proving he belongs in the league.
"It's about playing now," he said. "It's been about that for the past month or so. In June and July it was about celebrating, I just got drafted. Now it's time to get to work."
Williams and Price are making sure the work gets done.
When asked what it felt like to go against Williams in practice, Maynor offered a simple one-word answer.
"Wow," he said.
He then added: "It's a task every day. But he knows and I know, we both go at each other trying to make each other better."
When the Jazz drafted Williams with the No. 3 overall pick in 2005, the team was coming off a dismal 26-56 season and didn't have a big-name point guard running the show.
Williams learned the ropes from well-traveled veterans Keith McLeod and Milt Palacio.
"Milt Palacio, he helped me out a lot," Williams said. "He'd been in the league for six or seven years, played on a lot of teams. He helped me out a lot."
At that, someone joked that Williams was so appreciative he took Palacio's job midway through the season.
And with another smile, Williams added: "Maybe I don't need to be helping Eric out."
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