Ziaire Williams has improved his three-point shooting, giving the Nets a good return on investment

SAN ANTONIO — It was Ziaire Williams’ unwanted sweater that got him dumped by Memphis. But now it’s about his improved 3-point shot It earned him tough minutes with the net.

Williams, who has been below league average throughout his career, comes into Sunday’s game here against the Spurs shooting 54.5 percent from behind the arc after going 6-of-9 from deep in Friday’s home-opening loss to the Cavaliers.

That’s among the top 10 players averaging 5.5 attempts, according to Basketball Reference.

A far cry from where he started as a shooter.

“Yes, absolutely. I mean I worked my ass off every day this summer,” the 24-year-old Williams said of his offseason improvement. “You know, thousands and thousands of shots, three times a day, different movements.

“There’s not a single shot in the game that I haven’t worked on. I’m a true believer in that. The amount of work you put in always comes back and I try to trust God and trust my work. I’m glad I made some shots (Friday).”

Williams was acquired Through the window in the salary dumpa former lottery pick and tough defender whose lack of jumper ultimately got the Grizzlies going.

The Nets have been reshaping their roster in the wake of Mikal Bridges being traded to the Knicks. The five picks the Nets acquired from their first-round rival overshadowed Mamadi Diakite on an expiring partially guaranteed deal.

The Nets moved him to Memphis for a 2030 second-round pick in Dallas and Williams.

The fact that Williams’ 34.1 percent shooting from deep last season was a career-high should underscore how far he’s had to come.

But his defense, energy and youth led the rebuilding Nets to give him a two-year, $12.5 million contract last season, his second team option.

Through the preseason and two games, they appear to be getting a return on their (modest) investment.

Williams scored 25 points off the bench Friday against the Cavaliershis second highest scoring game while tying his career bests in buckets (nine) and 3-pointers (six).

He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, as the Nets narrowed the 25-point gap to just one point before retreating.

He was plus-17 in 9:37 logged during that final period, while starter Terrance Mann had 3:58.

Cam Thomas is available Against Tottenham despite suffering a broken nose.

Drake Powell (right (ankle sprain), Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain) and Haywood Highsmith (knee).

“Ziere was very active and was shooting well, so sometimes you had to read the game, and you felt he needed to be there,” coach Jordi Fernandez said.

The Nets’ attempt to develop a record five first-round picks has drawn comparisons to Kenny Atkinson’s tenure in Brooklyn.

“I think about Joe Harris. He was such a disaster his first year, like, ‘Can this guy play in the league? There were a bunch of guys in that bucket,'” Atkinson said. “We had the luxury of being able to get rid of them there. There’s no better development path than that.”

“It’s similar here, where they say, ‘Okay, the best way to do this is to get these guys in an NBA game and they’ll learn. And then in year two they get a little better, and then in year three, you hope to be in a playoff spot. I think that’s the road map.’