Claude Williams (basketball, born 1952) facts for kids
Claude Williams is a well-known Aboriginal Australian athlete. He played both rugby league and basketball for his home state of New South Wales. He also made history by becoming the first Aboriginal basketball coach in Australia.
Early Life
Claude Williams was born in 1952 in Camperdown, a suburb of Sydney. His father, Claude "Candy" Williams, was a country musician. Claude is also the first cousin of Harry Williams. Harry was the first Indigenous soccer player to represent the Socceroos at a World Cup in 1974.
Sports Journey
Williams started his sports journey playing cricket for the Sydney Cricket Club. He was even chosen by the New South Wales Tennis Association for their special program.
Later, he became interested in Rugby League. He played 12 games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the 1972–73 season. At the same time, he also played basketball.
Basketball Career
Claude Williams was a talented basketball player. He represented New South Wales in 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1981. He also played in many National Titles and Australian Club Championships. Between 1979 and 1986, he played 101 games in the National Basketball League for teams like the City of Sydney Astronauts and the Sydney Supersonics.
After his playing career, Williams became a coach. He was the assistant coach for the Supersonics in the 1986–87 season. Then, he became the head coach of the Sydney Kings. This made him the first and only Aboriginal basketball coach in Australia. In 1989–90, he also worked as an assistant coach for the Newcastle Falcons.
As of 2015, Claude Williams was working with an after-school program. This program was held at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern.
Other Activities
In 2010, Williams hosted a weekly radio show called The Sweet Science on Koori Radio. This program talked about the history and issues related to Indigenous boxing. It even won an award from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia for its contribution to Indigenous Broadcasting.
He also helped organize the National Indigenous 3on3 Basketball and Hip Hop Challenge, known as "Vibe 3on3." This was a two-day festival for young people. It included basketball, music, dancing, art, and other cultural activities. The festival traveled to Aboriginal communities all over Australia.
Achievements and Recognition
Claude Williams has received several honors for his contributions to sports and community:
- 1994: He was inducted into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Hall of Fame.
- 2021: The Sydney Kings created the "Claude Williams Most Valuable Player" award. This award is given to the best player during their annual Indigenous Round.
