Joey Wright
July 23, 2020
Orlando Williams
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth:
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Oregon (1991-1995)
- NBL DEBUT: 10/05/96
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 21/09/96
- NBL History: Geelong 1996
- Championships: 0
- None
NBL EXPERIENCE
Orlando Williams made his NBL debut with the Geelong Supercats on 10/5/1996. He scored 23 points in his first game.
1996 would see coach Jim Calvin replaced by up-and-coming coach Ian Stacker, with the team overhauling its roster. Major moves included securing Rupert Sapwell (via South East Melbourne) and Matt Scalzi (via Adelaide) to fill the departures of David Graham and Justin Cass, and bringing in powerhouse import Ray Owes to replace Jeff Arnold. Owes was joined by returning guard Joey Wright, who was injured after just two games and replaced by high-scoring Orlando Williams.
Williams, a former member of the Harlem Globetrotters, quickly became the Supercats’ top perimeter scorer, averaging (23.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals) across 21 games. His impact was immediate, scoring 23 points and adding 5 steals in his May 10 debut against North Melbourne. He followed that with 19 points against Melbourne and 20 points against Canberra, before erupting for 29 points (10-of-24 FG, 5-of-15 3PT) and 6 assists in a May 25 clash with South East Melbourne.
His best stretch of the season came from late May through July. On May 31, Williams exploded for 34 points (11-of-18 FG, 7-of-13 3PT, 5-of-6 FT) and 4 rebounds against Hobart. The following week, he poured in 32 points (12-of-20 FG, 6-of-11 3PT) with 6 rebounds versus the Magic on June 7. Williams continued his offensive form with 29 points and 2 steals in a June 22 thriller against North Melbourne and added 24 points and 6 boards against Newcastle on July 6.
In a nail-biting 119–116 road loss to Townsville on August 24, Williams delivered one of his finest performances of the year. He tallied 32 points (13-of-25 FG, 3-of-11 3PT, 3-of-5 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 steals while playing 42 minutes. That night also saw Ray Owes unleash a towering performance with 40 points, 22 rebounds (11 offensive), 4 blocks, 3 assists, and 2 steals. The following evening, in the second game of the road double, Williams again starred with 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in Geelong’s 131–93 demolition of Gold Coast—marking the final NBL win in Supercats history. Owes added 33 points, 26 rebounds and 3 blocks (13-of-19 FG, 7-of-7 FT). Trevor Torrance (20 points) and Chad McClendon (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks) led the Rollers.
Williams closed out his season with a consistent performance in the team’s penultimate game against Sydney on September 13, finishing with 31 points. He recorded 22 points and 8 assists in his final appearance, a September 16 loss to South East Melbourne. His last official game in the NBL came on September 21 against the Rollers, where he notched another 32-point game to pair with 4 rebounds and 7 assists, before departing for an overseas opportunity alongside Owes.
In Geelong’s last-ever NBL game—a 100–94 road loss to the Sydney Kings on September 28—Williams did not play. The Kings were led by Shane Heal (25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals) and Isaac Burton (25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), while the Supercats’ top contributors were Rupert Sapwell (23 points, 12 rebounds) and Simon Kerle (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists).
Ray Owes stood out as one of the league’s most dominant frontcourt players, averaging (22.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) across 25 games and earning All-NBL First Team honours.
Despite the influx of talent, the Supercats endured a difficult campaign, finishing 13th with a 6–20 record and ultimately handing back their NBL licence at season’s end due to financial strain and league restructuring.
Despite the Supercats’ struggles, Owes remained a consistent force, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and interior presence. Alongside Orlando Williams (23.5 points), Simon Kerle (17.0 points, 5.2 assists), and Rupert Sapwell (11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds), Owes formed the core of Geelong’s offensive identity. As the club exited the league, Williams’ explosive scoring and athleticism left a lasting mark on a team battling to stay afloat.
Orlando Williams played one season in the NBL. He averaged 23.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 | Geelong | 6-20 (13) | 21 | 867.0 | 494 | 69 | 51 | 14 | 55 | 28 | 3 | 76 | 55 | 179 | 406 | 44% | 87 | 237 | 37% | 49 | 62 | 79% | 57% | 55% | 34 | Totals | 21 | 867 | 494 | 69 | 51 | 14 | 55 | 28 | 3 | 76 | 55 | 179 | 406 | 44.1% | 87 | 237 | 36.7% | 49 | 62 | 79.0% | 57% | 55% | 34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 | Geelong | 6-20 (13) | 21 | 41.3 | 23.5 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 8.5 | 19.3 | 44% | 4.1 | 11.3 | 37% | 2.3 | 3.0 | 79% | 57% | 55% | 34 | Total | 21 | 41.3 | 23.5 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 8.5 | 19.3 | 44.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.7% | 4.1 | 11.3 | 79.0% | 57% | 55% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
COLLEGE
Orlando Williams played for Oregon during the 1991-92 season, when the Ducks went 6-21 overall and 2-16 in Pac-10 play under head coach Don Monson, averaging 65.1 points per game while allowing 78.6.
In that 1991-92 season, Williams appeared in 27 games and made 23 starts, totaling 266 points (9.9 points per game) while shooting 103-for-230 from the field (44.8%), going 38-for-110 on three-pointers (34.5%), and making 22-of-31 free throws (72.4%).
Across those 27 games in 1991-92, he recorded 74 total rebounds (2.7 per game), with 14 offensive rebounds and 60 defensive rebounds, along with 47 assists, 17 steals, 1 block, 56 turnovers, and 810:30 total minutes played (30.0 minutes per game), as Oregon finished 5-8 at home, 0-10 on the road, and 1-3 at neutral sites.
Williams returned in 1992-93 as Oregon went 10-20 overall and 3-15 in the Pac-10 under head coach Jerry Green, with team totals of 2,276 points across 30 games (75.9 per game) while allowing 2,366 points (78.9 per game).
In 1992-93, Williams played 30 games and started 20, scoring 383 points (12.8 per game) on 134-for-292 shooting (45.9%), hitting 69-for-165 from three (41.8%), and going 46-for-64 at the line (71.9), while adding 86 rebounds (2.9 per game), 44 assists, and 18 steals in 761:25 of court time; his noted single-game highs that season included 24 points vs Oregon State and 23 points at Arizona and at California.
During the 1993-94 season, Williams started 26 of 27 games and produced 501 points (18.6 per game) on 166-for-377 shooting (44.0%), with 81 made threes on 219 attempts (37.0%) and 88-of-112 free throws (78.6%), alongside 96 rebounds (3.6 per game), 35 assists, and 20 steals as Oregon finished 10-17 overall and 6-12 in the Pac-10; his biggest scoring night came on Feb. 19, 1994, when he scored 40 points at Washington State in a 98-87 win, and his other listed highs that year included 33 points at Saint Mary’s and 30 points at Oregon State.
As a senior in 1994-95, Williams led Oregon back to the NCAA Tournament for the program’s first appearance since 1961, as the Ducks went 19-9 overall and 11-7 in Pac-10 play, and he was a two-time All-Pac-10 guard who was also named Oregon’s team MVP in both 1994 and 1995 while earning All-NCAA District 8 honors during his college career.
In 1994-95, Williams played 28 games and started 27, scoring 524 points (19.7 per game) while shooting 164-for-361 from the field (45.4%), drilling 94-for-221 from three (42.5%), and making 102-of-135 free throws (75.5%), and he added 85 rebounds (2.9 per game), 44 assists, 15 steals, and 54 turnovers in 815:29; Oregon averaged 85.2 points per game (2,385 total) while allowing 80.4 (2,252 total), beat No. 2 UCLA 82-72 in conference play (UCLA’s only official loss of the season), and Williams’ listed top scoring games included 30 points vs Wisconsin-Green Bay, 30 points vs USC, 27 points at Washington State, 26 points vs Washington, 25 points vs Oregon State, and 23 points vs Texas in the NCAA Tournament first-round loss (90-73).
Across his Oregon career, Williams scored 1,674 points, which ranks seventh in program history, and no additional info was provided beyond his college listing at Oregon.
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