Derrick Williams (basketball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Derrick Williams

Williams with Fenerbahçe in 2019
Free agent
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1991-05-25) May 25, 1991 (age 34) Bellflower, California, U.S.
High school	La Mirada (La Mirada, California)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
College	Arizona (2009–2011)
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Pro career	2011–present
Career history
2011–2013	Minnesota Timberwolves
2013–2015	Sacramento Kings
2015–2016	New York Knicks
2016–2017	Miami Heat
2017	Cleveland Cavaliers
2017–2018	Tianjin Gold Lions
2018	Los Angeles Lakers
2018–2019	Bayern Munich
2019–2020	Fenerbahçe
2020–2021	Valencia
2021–2022	Maccabi Tel Aviv
2022–2023	Panathinaikos
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2012) Greek League All-Star (2022) Turkish Cup winner (2020) Turkish All-Star (2020) German BBL champion (2019) Consensus second-team All-American (2011) Pac-10 Player of the Year (2011) 2× First-team All-Pac-10 (2010, 2011) Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2010)

Derrick LeRon Williams (born May 25, 1991) is an American professional basketball player. He last played for Panathinaikos in Greece. He also played in the EuroLeague.

Williams played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats from 2009 to 2011. He was picked second overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 NBA draft. He played for several NBA teams. These included the Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Williams also played for teams in China, Germany, Turkey, Spain, and Israel. He is known for his strong play as a power forward.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Derrick Williams was born in Bellflower, California. He went to La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California. He was a talented basketball player from a young age.

College Basketball Career

Williams first planned to play at the University of Southern California. But then, coach Sean Miller from the University of Arizona convinced him to join the Arizona Wildcats.

Freshman Year Success (2009-2010)

As a freshman in 2009-10, Williams played really well. He scored about 15.7 points per game. He also grabbed 7.1 rebounds per game. His shooting was very accurate, making 57.5% of his shots.

He was named a freshman All-American. He also made the All-Pac-10 first team. Plus, he was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

Sophomore Year Highlights (2010-2011)

Williams with Arizona in 2011

Williams became even more famous in his second year. He averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He shot an amazing 59.5% from the field. This was the best in his conference.

He helped the Arizona Wildcats win the PAC-10 championship. Williams was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Williams also led the Wildcats in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He made a key block against Memphis. He scored a 3-point play against the Texas Longhorns. This helped Arizona reach the Sweet 16.

He scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against Duke. Arizona upset Duke to reach the Elite Eight. They lost a close game to Connecticut. After this season, experts thought he would be a top pick in the NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Journey

Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2013)

Derrick Williams decided to enter the NBA draft on April 13, 2011. The Minnesota Timberwolves picked him second overall. During an NBA lockout, he took summer classes at the University of Arizona. He also signed a deal with Under Armour.

Williams played in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. He also took part in the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest. He scored a season-high 27 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2012. In March 2013, he scored 28 points against the New Orleans Hornets.

Sacramento Kings (2013–2015)

Williams with the Kings in 2013

In November 2013, Williams was traded to the Sacramento Kings. He scored 12 points in his first game for the Kings. In December 2013, he scored a career-high 31 points. This helped the Kings win against the Dallas Mavericks.

In April 2015, he scored 22 points in the Kings' last game of the season. This was a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York Knicks (2015–2016)

Williams signed with the New York Knicks in July 2015. He scored 24 points in his first game for the Knicks. This helped them win against the Milwaukee Bucks. In January 2016, he had 15 points and 10 rebounds against the Boston Celtics. The next day, he scored 31 points, matching his career high.

Miami Heat (2016–2017)

In July 2016, Williams joined the Miami Heat. He played in 25 games for them. He was later released by the Heat in February 2017.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2017)

Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2017. He scored 12 points in his first game for Cleveland. He then signed for the rest of the season. The Cavaliers reached the 2017 NBA Finals. They were beaten by the Golden State Warriors.

Playing Overseas (2017–2023)

Williams started playing for teams outside the NBA in 2017.

• Tianjin Gold Lions (China): In December 2017, he signed with the Tianjin Gold Lions in China. He averaged 20 points per game there.
• Los Angeles Lakers (2018): In March 2018, he had a short 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Bayern Munich (Germany): In October 2018, Williams signed with Bayern Munich in Germany. He helped them win the German BBL championship in 2019.
• Fenerbahçe (Turkey): In July 2019, he signed a one-year deal with Fenerbahçe in Turkey.
• Valencia (Spain): In July 2020, Williams signed with Valencia Basket in Spain.
• Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel): In June 2021, he signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. He averaged 9.6 points per game.
• Panathinaikos (Greece): In July 2022, Williams signed with Panathinaikos in Greece. He averaged 12.4 points in EuroLeague games. He was released from the team in July 2023.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

Euroleague

College

See also

In Spanish: Derrick Williams para niños