BIO: Devin Williams was born in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Devin Williams made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 22 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After finishing first with an 18-10 record before being swept by New Zealand in the semifinals, Melbourne entered Dean Demopoulos’ second season with the league allowing three imports. Stephen Holt (to Zaragoza), Hakim Warrick (to Olympiacos) and Daniel Kickert (to Brisbane) departed, while Cedric Jackson (via New Zealand), Ramone Moore (via Pieno žvaigždės), Tai Wesley (via New Zealand) and David Andersen (via ASVEL) were added. Wesley was able to sign as a local under the NBL’s Asian player rule, while David Barlow returned after missing the previous season with an Achilles injury.

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and playing with Milwaukee during NBA Summer League, Melbourne filled its final roster position on August 9 by signing Devin Williams (via West Virginia). Melbourne CEO Vince Crivelli said, “His energy and presence on both ends of the floor stood out.”

Melbourne opened the season in Auckland on October 7, where the new import (4 points and 3 rebounds) came off the bench in a 76-71 loss to New Zealand. Williams (3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds across 16 games) remained a reserve throughout his time with United, coming from the bench in all 16 appearances. He played in each of Melbourne’s first 16 games but struggled to establish a consistent role, and by late October his lack of production had led to calls for an import change and speculation he would be released, although United publicly denied the rumours.

His best game came at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 6, where Williams (13 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) made 5-of-7 shots in 15 minutes as Melbourne fell 82-73 to Illawarra. With Chris Goulding and Todd Blanchfield sidelined through injury, Andersen (23 points and 8 rebounds) led United, while Nick Kay (15 points and 5 rebounds), Rotnei Clarke (14 points) and Mitch Norton (13 points and 6 assists) led the Hawks. The defeat was Melbourne’s fourth consecutive loss and left United at 3-6.

Three days later, Cedric Jackson (8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 9 games) was released after Melbourne decided to make a change to its import combination. Casper Ware (via ASVEL) arrived as his replacement and immediately gave United a more consistent scoring option in the backcourt.

Williams’ best rebounding game came against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on December 11, where Williams (6 points and 10 rebounds) powered inside for two dunks during Melbourne’s second-quarter fightback as United defeated the Kings 88-81. Goulding (28 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Ware (23 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) led Melbourne, while Kevin Lisch (24 points) and Brad Newley (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals) were Sydney’s best.

Six days later in Brisbane, Williams (0 points in 2:27) suffered a knee injury early as the Bullets defeated Melbourne 100-90. Goulding (24 points and 6 assists), Blanchfield (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Ware (12 points and 7 assists) led United, while Jermaine Beal (20 points and 7 assists) and Cameron Bairstow (16 points and 8 rebounds) led Brisbane. Subsequent examinations revealed a Grade 2 medial ligament strain and Williams was ruled out for four-to-six weeks.

With Andersen also sidelined by a knee injury, Melbourne signed Josh Boone (via Pınar Karşıyaka) as a temporary injury replacement before Christmas. Williams spent five weeks sidelined and worked his way back to full fitness, but Boone (10.1 points and 9.3 rebounds across 12 games) made an immediate impact and became the NBL’s leading rebounder. United elected to retain Boone for the remainder of the season and released Williams on January 31 in keeping with the league’s import rules, allowing him to pursue opportunities in the United States.

“We were very pleased to see the work Devin put in during the time he was sidelined,” Crivelli said. Williams joined the Greensboro Swarm on February 14 (to Greensboro).

Melbourne’s third opening import also failed to finish the season on court. Moore (10 points across 20 games) suffered a calf injury against Adelaide on January 12 and missed the final eight games, leading United to sign Lasan Kromah (via Promitheas Patras) as his injury replacement. Kromah (1 point across 3 games) scored only three points during his three appearances before later joining Körmend (to Körmend), completing a season in which all three imports Melbourne began the year with had been replaced.

Ware (22.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals across 18 games) led Melbourne in scoring after arriving, while Goulding (16.4 points across 22 games) remained the team’s leading local scorer despite missing six games with ankle problems. Andersen (9.8 points and 4.4 rebounds across 19 games) also missed an extended stretch with his knee injury, while Wesley (8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds across 28 games) and Majok Majok (5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds across 28 games) were the only United players to appear in all 28 games. Blanchfield (7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 22 games) and Barlow (5.1 points across 19 games) provided further support. Only six players appeared in at least 75 per cent of Melbourne’s games as injuries and import turnover prevented United from establishing continuity, while the team finished with the second-worst true shooting percentage in the league and went 2-5 in games decided by five points or fewer. Ware earned selection to the All-NBL First Team.

Tensions between Demopoulos and parts of Melbourne’s veteran group had become public by season’s end, with the club and coach parting ways after the campaign. Melbourne finished sixth with a 13-15 record and missed the playoffs.

Devin Williams played one season in the NBL. He averaged 3.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 0 assists in 16 NBL games.