Matt Hurt
October 29, 2024
Alan Williams
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 28/01/93
- Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona (USA)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 120
- Junior Assoc:
- College: UC Santa Barbara (2011–2015)
- NBL DEBUT: 16/09/22
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 13/01/24
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: South East Melbourne 2023-24
- Championships: 0
- None
NICKNAME/S: Big Sauce
BIO: Alan Williams was born in Phoenix, Arizona (USA) where he attended North High School. After playing in just one game as a freshman and averaging just 3.5 points as a sophomore, Williams averaged 12.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game as a junior in 2009/10.
As a senior in 2010/11, he averaged 22.1 points, 16.2 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 assists, leading North to a Metro Region championship and to the Class 5A quarterfinals. He was named Arizona State Player of the Year that season.
FAMILY: Williams’ father, Cody Sr., is a Justice of the Peace for Maricopa County, while his mother, Jeri, is the Chief of Police in Phoenix. His younger brother, Cody Jr., also attended the University of California, Santa Barbara.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Alan Williams made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 29 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.
South East Melbourne entered NBL24 under a new coach after its 15-13 campaign the previous season ended with a Play-In Qualifier loss to Perth. Mike Kelly replaced Simon Mitchell, while Kyle Adnam (to Sibiu), Trey Kell III (to Adelaide), Ryan Broekhoff (retired), Dane Pineau (to New Zealand) and Junior Madut (to Tasmania) departed. Mitch Creek, Reuben Te Rangi and Owen Foxwell remained, while Gary Browne later re-signed and Kelly added Gorjok Gak (via Brisbane), Matt Kenyon (via Tasmania), Rhys Vague (via Japan), Ben Ayre (via Cairns), Craig Moller (via Germany) and import Will Cummings (via China).
Williams had already committed to South East Melbourne for another two seasons in February, keeping him at the club through NBL25. “It came down to being in a place where I can grow as a person and as a player,” Williams said after re-signing. He spent the off-season with the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in Japan, averaging 14.5 points and 10.7 rebounds across 19 games as the Dolphins went 15-4 during his stint. Williams returned to Melbourne for NBL24 but suffered a knock to his left knee at training in September and required surgery, prompting the Phoenix to sign Tyler Cook as an injury replacement. Cook went on to win the Ray Borner Trophy as MVP of the NBL Blitz before Williams returned.
After missing South East Melbourne’s first five games, Williams made his season debut against Adelaide at the State Basketball Centre on October 19 and immediately produced a double-double. Williams (15 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) helped the Phoenix defeat the 36ers 102-85, with Creek (23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Browne (19 points and 8 assists) leading the scoring while Kell (21 points and 4 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.
Williams (16.7 points and 10.9 rebounds across 15 games) quickly reclaimed his place as one of the league’s dominant rebounders following his return. He finished NBL24 leading the league in rebounds for the second straight season and was the only player in the competition to average a double-double.
One of South East Melbourne’s best wins came at Qudos Bank Arena on December 10, where Williams (21 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) controlled the boards as the Phoenix defeated defending champions Sydney 104-94. Creek (33 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Ayre (13 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) provided the other major contributions, while Adams (19 points) led Sydney as South East Melbourne improved to 8-6.
Williams’ best game of the season came in Cairns on December 22, where Williams (29 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) made 13 field goals and carried a Phoenix side missing Creek through a knee injury. Te Rangi (14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Nader (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) provided support, but Waardenburg (20 points and 6 rebounds) led Cairns to a 94-75 win.
Injuries and roster changes continued to impact the Phoenix around Williams. Cook (13.3 points and 7 rebounds across 3 games) departed when Williams returned, while Gak (5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 17 games) suffered a calf injury and Daniel Johnson (3.7 points across 3 games) joined temporarily as his replacement. Moller (6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds across 12 games) then suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon, while Cummings (14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 12 games) was released in December following off-court issues. Kody Stattmann (3.6 points across 16 games) was initially elevated from the development player list before Abdel Nader (14.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 8 games) arrived as Cummings’ import replacement.
Williams’ season was ultimately cut short by a separate right knee problem suffered against Brisbane late in December. After playing and training through the injury for several weeks, the Phoenix announced in January that Williams would undergo an exploratory meniscectomy and miss the remainder of the regular season. The operation was separate from the left knee surgery that had kept him out at the beginning of NBL24, with Anzac Rissetto (1.9 points across 18 games) elevated in his absence.
Creek (20.8 points and 6.7 rebounds across 23 games) carried the scoring load through the Phoenix’s injury problems, earning All-NBL Second Team honours and his fifth consecutive club MVP award. Browne (13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 20 games) remained the primary playmaker when healthy, while Ayre (10.7 points across 27 games) enjoyed a breakout season. Kenyon (5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 25 games) and Te Rangi (5.8 points across 26 games) were other regular contributors as South East Melbourne fell away after its promising start.
Williams remained sidelined as South East Melbourne closed the season against Sydney at John Cain Arena on February 17. Foxwell (16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Creek (13 points and 3 rebounds) led the Phoenix, while Hogg (25 points and 7 rebounds) powered Sydney to a 122-67 victory, the largest defeat in South East Melbourne history, as the Phoenix finished last with a 10-18 record.
Following the season, Williams and South East Melbourne mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his contract. He departed after two seasons and 43 games with the Phoenix, having led the NBL in rebounding during both campaigns.
The Phoenix and Alan Williams have agreed to part ways.
We thank Big Sauce for his contribution to the organisation over the past two seasons. 💚 @alantwilliams
📝 Full Story: https://t.co/EArOQFQln1 pic.twitter.com/bSMFQVp88S— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) March 6, 2024
At the time of exiting the club, Williams was ranked third all-time in points per game (16.6), behind only Mitch Creek and John Roberson.
Alan Williams played two seasons the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 43 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 31 | South East Melbourne | 10-18 (10) | 15 | 376.6 | 251 | 163 | 38 | 58 | 105 | 12 | 14 | 31 | 57 | 100 | 232 | 43% | 5 | 17 | 29% | 46 | 77 | 60% | 47% | 44% | 29 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 15-13 (5) | 28 | 705.7 | 464 | 276 | 51 | 96 | 180 | 27 | 14 | 57 | 94 | 165 | 304 | 54% | 1 | 8 | 13% | 133 | 169 | 79% | 60% | 54% | 30 | Totals | 43 | 1082 | 715 | 439 | 89 | 154 | 285 | 39 | 28 | 88 | 151 | 265 | 536 | 49.4% | 6 | 25 | 24.0% | 179 | 246 | 72.8% | 55% | 50% | 30 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 31 | South East Melbourne | 10-18 (10) | 15 | 25.1 | 16.7 | 10.9 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 6.7 | 15.5 | 43% | 0.3 | 1.1 | 29% | 3.1 | 5.1 | 60% | 47% | 44% | 29 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 15-13 (5) | 28 | 25.2 | 16.6 | 9.9 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 10.9 | 54% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 13% | 4.8 | 6.0 | 79% | 60% | 54% | 30 | Total | 43 | 25.2 | 16.6 | 10.2 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 6.6 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 12.5 | 49.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 24.0% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 72.8% | 55% | 50% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Williams played for the Charlotte Hornets (three games in Orlando) and Houston Rockets (four games in Las Vegas) during the 2015 NBA Summer League. For his play with the Rockets in Las Vegas, he earned All-NBA Summer League Second Team honours.
On March 8, 2016, Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. He made his NBA debut on March 17 during a 103–69 loss to the Utah Jazz, recording one point and one steal in two minutes. The following day, he signed a multi-year deal with the Suns.
In the Suns season finale on April 13, Williams recorded his first double-double in the NBA with season highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds (alongside 3 blocks) in a 114–105 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
With the Suns Summer League team in 2016, Williams was the only player to average a double-double throughout the event, averaging 11.8 points and a league-leading 11.2 rebounds over six games, which earned him All-NBA Summer League First Team honours.
On September 1, 2016, his contract for the 2016–17 season was fully guaranteed by the Suns. On November 18, 2016, he had a season-best game with 15 points and 15 rebounds in a 116–96 win over the Indiana Pacers.
On December 14, he was assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA Development League. He was recalled the next day.
On February 10, 2017, with Tyson Chandler sustaining an injury early in the game and Alex Len missing the game with a suspension, Williams made the most of his 24 minutes on the court. He recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds to go with a season-high four blocks in a 115–97 win over the Chicago Bulls.
He scored a career-high 17 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds in a 100–96 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming just the 10th NBA player with multiple 15/15 games in his first 35 career games in the past 19 seasons.
On March 5, Williams had 11 points and matched his career best with 15 rebounds in a 109–106 win over the Boston Celtics.
He became the first player in Suns history with five straight double-doubles off the bench. On April 5, 2017, he scored 16 and grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds in a 120–111 loss to the Golden State Warriors. On July 26, 2017, Williams re-signed with the Suns to a multi-year contract.[29] On September 25, 2017, he was ruled out for six months after undergoing a meniscus repair of his right knee.[30] On March 15, 2018, he was assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns.[31] He was recalled on March 16,[32] reassigned on March 20,[33] and recalled again on March 25.[34] On March 26, he made his season debut for Phoenix against the Boston Celtics.[35] In 16 minutes off the bench, he recorded three points and five rebounds in a 102–94 loss.[36] On July 2, 2018, Williams was waived by the Suns.
On September 24, 2018, Williams signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Under the terms of the deal, he split his time between Brooklyn and their NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets alongside aussie Mitch Creek.
He was waived by Brooklyn on January 2, 2019, but was then re-signed to another two-way contract on January 11. He made his NBA debut that night and remained with the team for the rest of the 2018–19 season.
Williams played 67 games in the NBA. He averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- March 8, 2016: Signed a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.
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March 18, 2016: Signed a multi-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.
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December 14, 2016: Assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns of the G-League.
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December 15, 2016: Recalled from the Northern Arizona Suns of the G-League.
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July 26, 2017: Signed a multi-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.
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March 15, 2018: Assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns of the G-League.
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March 16, 2018: Recalled from the Northern Arizona Suns of the G-League.
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March 20, 2018: Assigned to the Northern Arizona Suns of the G-League.
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July 2, 2018: Waived by the Phoenix Suns.
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September 24, 2018: Signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
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January 2, 2019: Waived by the Brooklyn Nets.
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January 11, 2019: Signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 87% | 78% | 78% | 87% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 265 | 536 | 49.4% | 6 | 25 | 24.0% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 26 | Brooklyn | PF | 5 | 0 | 26 | 18 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 62% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 61% | 62% |
| 2017-18 | 25 | Phoenix | PF | 5 | 0 | 70 | 20 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 39% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 6 | 9 | 67% | 46% | 39% |
| 2016-17 | 24 | Phoenix | C | 47 | 0 | 708 | 346 | 292 | 23 | 94 | 198 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 125 | 138 | 267 | 52% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 70 | 112 | 63% | 55% | 52% |
| 2015-16 | 23 | Phoenix | PF | 10 | 0 | 68 | 29 | 38 | 5 | 14 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 24 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 9 | 14 | 64% | 48% | 42% | Total | 67 | 0 | 872 | 413 | 371 | 39 | 115 | 256 | 37 | 38 | 51 | 155 | 163 | 322 | 51% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 87 | 139 | 63% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 26 | Brooklyn | PF | 5 | 0 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 62% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.8 | 50% | 61% | 62% |
| 2017-18 | 25 | Phoenix | PF | 5 | 0 | 14.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 39% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.2 | 1.8 | 67% | 46% | 39% |
| 2016-17 | 24 | Phoenix | C | 47 | 0 | 15.1 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.5 | 2.4 | 63% | 55% | 52% |
| 2015-16 | 23 | Phoenix | PF | 10 | 0 | 6.8 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 42% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.9 | 1.4 | 64% | 48% | 42% | Total | 67 | 0 | 13.0 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 51% | 0.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 2.1 | 63% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
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China - Qingdao (2015–2016), Shaanxi Xinda (2019), Goyang Sono (2024-2025) | Russia - Lokomotiv Kuban (2019–2022)
China - Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles (2015–2016), Shaanxi Xinda (2019) | Russia - Lokomotiv Kuban (2019–2022) | South Korea - Goyang Sono Skygunners (2024–2025)
Williams joined the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles for the 2015–16 Chinese Basketball Association season, playing his first season in China.
On July 25, 2015, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association. He appeared in 35 of the teams 38 games during the 2015/16 season, as the Eagles missed a playoff berth with a 16–22 win–loss record. Over those 35 games, he averaged 20.8 points, a league-leading 15.4 rebounds, 2.1 assist, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
That Qingdao season ended with Williams leading the CBA in rebounding in 2015–16 before he returned to China in July 2019 with Shaanxi Xinda of the Chinese NBL.
On August 13, 2019, Williams signed with Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League for the 2019/20 season.
In his first season with Lokomotiv Kuban, Williams averaged 11.2 points and 10.1 rebounds in 19 VTB United League games, and he also posted 9.4 points and 9.4 rebounds across 10 EuroCup appearances.
On June 4, 2020, Williams re-signed with Lokomotiv Kuban for the 2020/21 season.[45] In November 2020, he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Before that injury ended his campaign, Williams averaged 22.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in seven VTB United League games during the 2020–21 season.
Williams returned to Lokomotiv Kuban for the 2021/22 season, but left the team in March 2022.
During that final Lokomotiv season, he played four VTB United League games and nine EuroCup games, averaging 9.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in VTB play and 7.6 points with 7.1 rebounds in EuroCup action.
On June 12, 2024, Williams signed with Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League, later re-signing with the club on February 12, 2025 after an earlier stint ended in December 2024.
In 2025, Alan “Sauce” Williams played in South Korea for Goyang Sono, where one of his top performances included 17 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 8/14 from the field (57.1%) in an 86–70 win over Wonju.
Across 30 Korean Basketball League games in 2024–25, Williams averaged 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals for Goyang Sono.
COLLEGE
Alan Williams played four NCAA seasons at UC Santa Barbara from 2011–12 through 2014–15, appearing in 112 games with 101 starts while averaging 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game for his career.
Williams finished his Gauchos career as the school’s all-time rebounding leader and second all-time leading scorer, becoming the only UCSB player to reach the milestone combination of 1,000+ points, 500+ rebounds, and 400+ assists in a college career context of across-the-board production and durability.
By his sophomore season (2012–13), Williams had already risen into the conference’s elite tier, earning first-team All-Big West recognition for the first time and adding NABC All-District honours as his scoring, rebounding, and rim protection numbers accelerated into an every-night double-double threat.
Williams’ national breakout came as a junior in 2013–14 when he was named Big West Player of the Year after leading the conference in both scoring (21.6 points per game) and rebounding (11.6 rebounds per game), while also ranking among the Big West leaders in field-goal percentage (.538) and blocks (2.4 per game).
That 2013–14 season included signature ceiling games that became program reference points, including a career-high 39 points against South Dakota State and a 20-rebound performance versus UC Davis, while he scored in double figures in 26 games and recorded 15 double-doubles as one of the most heavily featured big men in the country.
Williams also led the entire NCAA in rebounding as a junior and then repeated the feat as a senior, becoming a two-time national rebounding leader across 2013–14 and 2014–15, which underpinned three straight first-team All-Big West selections from 2012–13 through 2014–15.
His senior season (2014–15) opened with immediate national attention as he earned Big West Player of the Week honours after a road double-double against No. 5 Kansas, and he later added Naismith Trophy Top 50 Watch List recognition as he continued piling up double-doubles at a historic rate early in the year.
During the 2014–15 campaign, Williams’ event-level performances included a monster line of 22 points, 20 rebounds, and six blocks in an overtime win over Mercer at the Great Alaska Shootout, one of the best single-game statistical combinations by any Division I big that season.
Across his UCSB career, Williams’ resume was anchored by Big West Player of the Year (2014), three consecutive first-team All-Big West selections (2013–2015), and two straight seasons finishing as the NCAA’s rebounding leader, with his career stat line and school-record rebounding total making him one of the defining frontcourt players in Gauchos history.
AWARDS
- First-team All-NBA G League (2019)
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CBA leading rebounder (2016)
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2× NCAA leading rebounder (2014, 2015)
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Big West Player of the Year (2014)
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3× First-team All-Big West (2013–2015)
Related
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