The Nets need Ziaire Williams to be their best defender, to get back to the way he played a year ago.

So far, they haven’t seen it this season.

Coach Jordi Fernández has tried to coax the best out of Williams, first with words and then with (lost) playing time.

Williams took his first healthy DNP of the season Tuesday vs. the Knicks , a clear message about his need to improve.

It remains to be seen if the message was received.

It won’t be sure until the Nets take the court Friday — that is, if Williams even plays vs. the 76ers.

“It’s a very abstract question because I just talked to him and didn’t play him last game,” Fernández told The Post. “So if — whenever he has the next opportunity to play — he consistently does it, then we will see if I was successful or not. If not, it’s no

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