D-Will is in a very good place; right now it's Beijing

BEIJING — The comparisons to Chris Paul don't seem so important anymore. The rookie growing pains a while back. The fact that he has yet to make the NBA All-Star team.

Deron Williams' arrival here, at the elite level of his sport, occurred much before the U.S. basketball team's touchdown in Beijing. And he is determined to enjoy it.

"I'm just having fun right now," he said before practice this week. "I feel like I'm in a great place in my career. For being in just my third year, being on this team is an honor and I'm just soaking it all."

At 24, Williams is clearly at peace with his role in the league, his place in the NBA and at this moment, in the basketball world. He has not yet been voted to an All-Star game but, as Jason Kidd predicted, "he will be in Phoenix for the game next year."

And likely for many more after that. But frankly, it doesn't seem all that big of a deal.

"This is 12 people as opposed to 26, 27 after injuries and replacements," he said with a smile. "This is one of the best honors you can have."

Debating whether Williams, the No. 3 overall pick, or Paul, the gifted New Orleans point guard taken fourth, will be better over time no longer seems warranted.

"He's as good a point guard as anybody," assistant coach Mike D'Antoni said of Williams. "When people ask who's the best, people like different things. He could be lumped in with Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, all these guys. I don't know how you distinguish who's the best but he's definitely in the argument."

What is more significant is that after years of a point guard dearth in the NBA — after Nash and Kidd — these two have blossomed at the same time.

"It's a cycle," Kidd said. "But you got two of the best when you're talking about Chris and Deron. They don't have to score. They can dictate the game by finding their teammates. That's a true point guard."

In Beijing these last two weeks, they have shared the backcourt often, Williams playing off the ball and Paul taking his natural point.

"It's fun though," Williams said. "We play well together, mesh well offensively. Defensively, we bring a lot of energy, pressure the ball a lot. I'm having a blast playing with Chris."

Williams has been averaging 21 minutes per game and Paul 22, as the U.S. has run over its opposition here. The Americans play Spain for the gold medal on Sunday.