While the 2006 – 2007 NBA season was a break out season for Utah Jazz Point Guard, Deron Williams. He has spent the summer breaking in. Using his own words he has spent his summer “playing for four of the best coaches in the game, and playing with 11 of the best players in the world.” Of course he is referring to Team USA, and he would be the 12^th player in the statement “12 of the best players in the world.”

Team USA dominated the FIBA Tournament of the Americas winning every game by an average of nearly 40 points, and earning a spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they will be the favorites to win the gold medal. Team USA winning the gold use to be a forgone conclusion, but the team has had a rough run in international competition since 2000, losing games in international play as some of the countries best players stay home to rest and enjoy their summer. However when you talk to Williams, you can tell he welcomes this opportunity. “It’s been great” He says, “it’s an honor, it’s a privilege to be playing in this event, playing for my country and to be playing with the level of guys I am playing with right now. I am having a blast out here.”

In addition to being a benefit to Team USA, Williams and the Jazz will undoubtedly benefit from the summer play as well. “I am always looking for new things.” Williams explains “Right now I am really watching J. Kidd’s passes. The way he passes the ball is unbelievable. It’s the way he sees things on the court.”

When asked what aspects of Team USA he would like to bring to his teammates back in Utah, Williams has a few ideas. “Just seeing how hard these guys are competing right now. Like I said these are 11of the best players in the world and everyone is playing together.” Taking it a bit further he adds “Everyone is talking on defense. I think that’s some of the things we need to bring back to our team.”

Williams isn’t afraid to work hard, and you can see it in his improvement. “Players get better in the offseason” says Williams. Personally he hits the weight room and then the gym to work on his game and improve his shooting by taking “500 to 1000 shots a day.” It’s a conscious effort he explains, “I try to get better, I try to improve.”

After the Jazz were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, Williams was quick to point out that some of the team members may have had their hearts someplace other then the game. When asked how his teammates will respond he drops he is not ready to answer just yet. “We will see when they come back. We won’t know until training camp and the preseason starts.” Only then Williams explains “We should get a feel for where guys are.” He doesn’t want to hear it – he want to see it. “Hopefully everybody took advantage of the offseason and put the time in the weight room and the gym and got better” Williams adds.

All of this sets the stage for a great season. It feeds the anticipation that has buzzing around the team. It confirms the optimism that has lead the Jazz to virtually sell out the 2007-2008 season, months before the first game. But the most telling comment came when I asked Deron Williams what were his goals and expectations for the upcoming season. There was no pause, no time for contemplation. He looked me right in the eyes and without hesitation and with confidence I could feel said three words. “Win a championship.”