Mo Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mo Williams

Williams with Jackson State in March 2024
Jackson State Tigers
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1982-12-19) December 19, 1982 (age 42) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
High school	Murrah (Jackson, Mississippi)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
College	Alabama (2001–2003)
NBA Draft	2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Pro career	2003–2017
Coaching career	2018–present
League	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Career history
As player:
2003–2004	Utah Jazz
2004–2008	Milwaukee Bucks
2008–2011	Cleveland Cavaliers
2011–2012	Los Angeles Clippers
2012–2013	Utah Jazz
2013–2014	Portland Trail Blazers
2014–2015	Minnesota Timberwolves
2015	Charlotte Hornets
2015–2017	Cleveland Cavaliers
As coach:
2018–2020	Cal State Northridge (assistant)
2020–2022	Alabama State
2022–present	Jackson State
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2016) NBA All-Star (2009) SEC Freshman of the Year (2002) Third-team All-SEC (2003) McDonald's All-American (2001) Third-team Parade All-American (2001) Mississippi Mr. Basketball (2001)
Career NBA statistics
Points	10,759 (13.2 ppg)
Rebounds	2,264 (2.8 rpg)
Assists	3,990 (4.9 apg)

Maurice "Mo" Williams (born December 19, 1982) is a well-known American basketball coach and former professional player. He currently leads the men's basketball team at Jackson State University. Mo Williams played for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He had a great high school career in Jackson, Mississippi, before playing college basketball at the University of Alabama. As a freshman, he helped his team achieve an impressive 27–8 record. They even shared a championship in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). After two years at Alabama, Williams joined the 2003 NBA draft. The Utah Jazz picked him as the 47th overall player.

During his NBA career, he played for several teams. These included the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2009, he was chosen as an NBA All-Star. His biggest achievement came in 2016. He won his only NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He stopped playing professionally in 2017.

After retiring as a player, Williams started his coaching career. In May 2018, he became an assistant coach for the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team. In May 2020, he took on the head coach role for the Alabama State Hornets basketball team. He coached there for two seasons. In March 2022, he became the head coach at Jackson State University. This was a special move for him, as it's in his hometown.

College Basketball Journey

Mo Williams played college basketball at the University of Alabama. His coach was Mark Gottfried. In 2002, as a freshman, he started every game as the point guard. He averaged 10.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. His strong play helped the Crimson Tide team get a 27–8 record. They also had a perfect 17–0 record at home. The team won the SEC regular-season championship.

Williams and his team entered the NCAA tournament as a high-ranked No. 2 seed. However, they lost in the second round to Kent State. In the 2003 season, Williams led his team in scoring and assists. He averaged 16.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. Their NCAA tournament run that year ended in the first round. After this season, he was named third-team All-SEC.

After two successful seasons, Williams decided to leave college early. He chose to enter the 2003 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Starting with the Utah Jazz (2003–2004)

The Utah Jazz picked Mo Williams in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft. He was the 47th player chosen overall. In his first season, called his rookie year, he averaged 5 points and 1.3 assists per game.

Playing for the Milwaukee Bucks (2004–2008)

Williams with the Bucks in April 2008

On August 8, 2004, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Williams. The Jazz decided not to keep him.

Williams stepped up when the Bucks' starting point guard, T. J. Ford, got injured. During the 2004–05 season, he averaged 10.2 points and 6.1 assists. He became known for making important shots at the end of games. He made several game-winning shots in the 2005–06 season.

In 2006, the Bucks traded T. J. Ford. This opened a starting spot for Williams. In the first 19 games of the 2006–07 season, Williams played very well. He averaged 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. These were all career-high numbers for him.

On December 20, 2006, Williams achieved his first triple-double. This means he had double-digit numbers in three categories. He scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and made 10 assists against the Miami Heat. On January 27, 2007, he scored 30 points and made 10 assists. He also hit a game-winning shot against the New York Knicks.

In the summer of 2007, Williams could have left the Bucks. However, he chose to stay. He signed a six-year deal worth $52 million.

Time with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2008–2011)

Williams with the Cavaliers in April 2009

Williams with the Cavaliers in November 2010, defending John Wall

On August 13, 2008, Williams was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was a big trade involving three teams and six players. When he joined the Cavaliers, he changed his jersey number to #2. His usual #25 was already retired by former Cavalier Mark Price.

On February 10, 2009, Williams was chosen for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. He replaced an injured player. The next day, February 11, Williams scored a career-high 44 points. He also had 7 assists against the Phoenix Suns.

During the 2008–09 season, Williams helped the Cavaliers have the best record in the league. They won 66 games and lost only 16. The team was especially strong at home, with a 39–2 record at the Quicken Loans Arena.

After LeBron James left the Cavaliers, Williams became a strong voice for the team. He hinted on social media that he wanted to stay. He also spoke out about LeBron's departure.

On November 24, 2010, Williams made a game-winning shot for the Cavaliers. It was a 15-foot shot at the buzzer against his old team, the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 25 points in that game.

Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2012)

Williams in 2011

On February 24, 2011, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He immediately became a starter for the Clippers. He played both guard positions. His points per game and shooting percentage improved.

The next season, the Clippers got Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups. This made Williams the team's "sixth man." This means he was the first player to come off the bench. He did well in this role. He finished eighth in the voting for NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Returning to the Utah Jazz (2012–2013)

On June 29, 2012, Mo Williams was traded back to the Jazz. This was part of a four-team trade.

Time with the Portland Trail Blazers (2013–2014)

On August 8, 2013, Williams signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. On November 23, 2013, he was ejected from a game. This happened after he got into an argument with an opponent. He was suspended for one game. Williams also injured his groin during the playoffs that season.

Playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves (2014–2015)

On July 30, 2014, Williams signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. On January 13, 2015, Williams had an amazing game. He scored a career-high 52 points! He broke the team's single-game scoring record. This was only the third time in his career he scored over 40 points. He was named Western Conference Player of the Week for his great performance.

Short Stint with the Charlotte Hornets (2015)

On February 10, 2015, Williams was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He played his first game for the Hornets on February 21. He scored 24 points and had 12 assists. Williams continued to play well. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. This made him the first player to win this award in both conferences in the same season.

Second Time with Cleveland (2015–2017)

On July 10, 2015, Williams signed a contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This reunited him with LeBron James. In his first game back, he scored 19 points and had 7 assists. He filled in as a starter for an injured teammate.

As the season went on, his playing time decreased. This was partly because Kyrie Irving returned from injury. Williams also dealt with his own injuries, including a torn ligament in his thumb. He later had swelling in his left knee.

Williams played limited minutes during the Cavaliers' playoff run. The team made it to the 2016 NBA Finals. They faced the Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers fell behind 3–1 in the series. But they made an incredible comeback! They won the series in seven games. This made them the first team in NBA history to win the championship after being down 3–1. Mo Williams became an NBA champion!

Williams' last NBA game was Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. He scored 2 points in that game. He officially retired from playing in 2017.

Coaching Career

In May 2018, Mo Williams began his coaching journey. He was named an assistant coach for the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball team. This marked the end of his playing career.

In May 2020, he became the head coach of the Alabama State Hornets basketball team. He coached there for two years. On March 9, 2022, he resigned from that position. Just a few days later, on March 14, Williams was named the head coach at Jackson State University. This was a special moment for him, as it's his hometown university. He replaced coach Wayne Brent.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

See also

In Spanish: Mo Williams para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career free throw percentage leaders