The Greatest NBL Players at Every Age
April 11, 2021
Chris Williams
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 9/7/1980
- Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 98
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Virginia (1998–2002)
- NBL DEBUT: 11/10/02
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 6/04/03
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 22
- NBL History: Sydney 2003
- Championships: 1
- Sydney (2003)
BIO: Chris Williams was born in Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Chris Williams made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 22 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.
Prior to playing in the EuroLeague, Williams played as a import for the Sydney Kings in Australia’s NBL. With the Kings, he was a leading scorer, he shot at a high percentage, and he was a top rated rebounder.
Williams arrived in Sydney a mere 22 years of age, and the Sydney Kings had signed him after playing just one year of college ball at Virginia. He debuted in the purple and gold against the Townsville Suns and top scored with 24 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, crazy numbers for a 22-year-old in any league.
The jaw-dropping games didn’t stop there. Williams’ one season in the league included a 21 points, 18 rebound, 9 assist effort against Canberra, a 34 point, 15 rebound and 11 assist triple double against rivals West Sydney and a 35 point 12 rebound victory over the Perth Wildcats who they would later face off in the Grand Final.
Chris Williams did a lot of things that a lot of people didn’t think he could do. Despite playing mostly at small forward, he played all five positions during his one season in the NBL.
The 199 cm Williams finished among the top five in the league in points, rebounds, steals and blocks as well as being was one of the youngest imports ever to record a triple-double. By the time the season was over he had been named League MVP, Grand Final MVP and was a major factor in the Kings winning the NBL Championship for the first time in franchise history.
On October 10, 2013, Williams was named to the Sydney Kings’ 25th Anniversary Team.
Chris Williams played one season in the NBL. He averaged 23.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 38 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 22nd in rebounds per game.
– 30th in steals per game.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 22 | Sydney | 22-8 (1) | 38 | 1,526.0 | 896 | 460 | 165 | 138 | 322 | 82 | 49 | 121 | 125 | 361 | 676 | 53% | 11 | 68 | 16% | 163 | 260 | 63% | 56% | 54% | 35 | Totals | 38 | 1526 | 896 | 460 | 165 | 138 | 322 | 82 | 49 | 121 | 125 | 361 | 676 | 53.4% | 11 | 68 | 16.2% | 163 | 260 | 62.7% | 57% | 54% | 35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 22 | Sydney | 22-8 (1) | 38 | 40.2 | 23.6 | 12.1 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 9.5 | 17.8 | 53% | 0.3 | 1.8 | 16% | 4.3 | 6.8 | 63% | 56% | 54% | 35 | Total | 38 | 40.2 | 23.6 | 12.1 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 9.5 | 17.8 | 53.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.2% | 0.3 | 1.8 | 62.7% | 57% | 54% | 35 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 35 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- China - Qingdao (2008–2009) | Iran - Tehran (2010–2011), Isfahan (2012-2013)| Germany - Frankfurt (2003–2005) | Korea - Mobis Phoebus (2005–2007, 2009-2010), Goyang (2011-2012) |Philippines - San Miguel (2009) | Turkey - Türk Telekom (2007–2008)
Williams led the 2004/05 EuroLeague in steals, with 2.8 per game, while playing with the Frankfurt Skyliners.
He won the Germany BBL championship with Frankfurt, in 2004.
From 2005 to 2007, he played in South Koreas KBL, with Ulsan Mobis Phoebus. He also played with Qingdao DoubleStar in Chinas CBA, and with Mahram Tehran in Irans Basketball Super League.
In a game between Qingdao and Dongguan Leopards, on December 25, 2009, Williams produced the second ever Quadruple-double in CBA history, as he finished the game with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assist, and 11 steals. Qingdao won the game 122–103.
COLLEGE
Williams played college basketball at the University of Virginia, with the Virginia Cavaliers. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1999. He was also named Second Team All-ACC in 2000, and Third Team All-ACC in 1999 and 2001.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Most Valuable Player (2003)
- 1x time NBL Finals MVP (2003)
- 1x All-NBL First Team- German League Finals MVP (2005)
-
German League MVP (2005)
-
CBA steals leader (2010)
-
Second-team All-ACC (2000)
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2× Third-team All-ACC (1999, 2001)
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ACC Rookie of the Year (1999)
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Chris Williams passed away on March 15, 2017, due to blood clots in his heart.
Related
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