Walt Williams: Difference between revisions

Walt Williams
Personal information
Born	April 16, 1970 (age 54); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school	Crossland (Temple Hills, Maryland)
College	Maryland (1988–1992)
NBA draft	1992: 1st round, 7th overall pick
	Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career	1992–2003
Position	Small forward
Number	42, 43
Career history
1992–1996	Sacramento Kings
1996	Miami Heat
1996–1998	Toronto Raptors
1998–1999	Portland Trail Blazers
1999–2002	Houston Rockets
2002–2003	Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
	NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1993); Consensus second-team All-American (1992); First-team All-ACC (1992);
Career NBA statistics
Points	8,385 (11.8 ppg)
3-Pointers Made	976
3P%	.379
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Men's Basketball
Representing Vereinigte Staaten
Pan American Games

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Walter Ander "The Wizard" Williams (born April 16, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player. A sharpshooting 6'8" swingman, Williams attended school at the University of Maryland from 1988 to 1992, and has been credited for helping to revive the school's basketball program.

Early life

Williams grew up in Temple Hills, Maryland and attended Crossland High School.^[1]

College career

Williams began playing for the University of Maryland only two years after the death of star Len Bias and the ensuing scandal that cost Lefty Driesell his job as coach. When Williams arrived at Maryland, the Terrapins were also on the verge of receiving major sanctions from the NCAA due to violations committed by Driesell's successor, Bob Wade, that would lead to his resignation. Rather than transfer to another school, Williams chose to remain at Maryland and play under new coach Gary Williams. It was a tremendous boost for the coach, who had to start rebuilding the program from the bottom up while dealing with both the sanctions and tougher academic standards now imposed by the school.^[2]

Williams was on the Associated Press All-America Second Team as a senior at Maryland in 1991–92, averaging a school-record 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals. He scored 20 or more points in 19 straight games and broke Len Bias's single-season point total record at Maryland by chalking up 776 points as a senior.^{[citation needed]}

Professional career

Williams was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the seventh pick of the 1992 NBA draft and was on the 1992–93 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, spending time with Kings, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.^[3] Williams stands third in Rockets history with a 3-point percentage of .393. He averaged double digits in scoring in six of eight NBA seasons and scored 8,385 points in his career.

Williams participated in the AT&T Shootout during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.

Williams is known for wearing his socks to his knees,^[4] a style which he adopted in honor of his boyhood idol George Gervin. This was also a popular fashion trend among the youth in the D.C. Metro area at that time.

In June 2018, Williams and fellow former Maryland basketball star Tony Massenburg, co-wrote the book Lessons From Lenny. The book is biographical and dives into how the death on Len Bias affected their lives and basketball decisions. Lessons From Lenny, features contributions from Gary Williams and Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Len Elmore, Johnny Rhodes, Keith Booth, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and more.^[5]

National team career

Williams played on the US team at the 1991 Pan American Games.^[6]

Other activities

While in the NBA, Williams established a $125,000 scholarship fund at the University of Maryland which benefits minority students, in honor of his late father, Walter Sr.^[7]

Williams serves as a sideline reporter for radio broadcasts of University of Maryland men's basketball games.^[8]

Film

In 1996, he appeared in the film Eddie starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Walt Williams also appeared in the Hootie & the Blowfish music video for the number one song "Only Wanna Be with You".

Personal life

After retiring from the NBA, Williams moved to Brookeville, Maryland and had three sons there with his wife April. He became a coach for his sons' basketball team at Sherwood High School.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Goldwein, Eric (January 25, 2016). "Former Maryland star Walt Williams keeps basketball in the family as a high school assistant coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
^ The Wizard | A Walt Williams Documentary (YouTube video). Maryland Athletics. March 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
^ Mavs sign Williams to fill small forward void
^ R.E. Graswich (November 2, 1992). "Kings' Williams is long on socks, but short of breath in Arco debut". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^ "Lessons From Lenny". www.whyderangeproductions.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^ "Eleventh Pan American games -- 1991". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^ Jamison Hensley (February 11, 1996). "Father's memory prompts endowment W. Williams' scholarship first by a Terps athlete". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
^ "Walt Williams Bio - Maryland Terrapins Athletics - University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site". www.umterps.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013.

External links

Career Stats

[wpost-1] Goldwein, Eric (January 25, 2016). "Former Maryland star Walt Williams keeps basketball in the family as a high school assistant coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

[2] The Wizard | A Walt Williams Documentary (YouTube video). Maryland Athletics. March 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

[3] Mavs sign Williams to fill small forward void

[4] R.E. Graswich (November 2, 1992). "Kings' Williams is long on socks, but short of breath in Arco debut". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

[5] "Lessons From Lenny". www.whyderangeproductions.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.

[6] "Eleventh Pan American games -- 1991". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

[7] Jamison Hensley (February 11, 1996). "Father's memory prompts endowment W. Williams' scholarship first by a Terps athlete". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

[8] "Walt Williams Bio - Maryland Terrapins Athletics - University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site". www.umterps.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|American basketball player}}
 {{for|other people named Walt Williams or Walter Williams|Walter Williams (disambiguation) }}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
 {{Infobox basketball biography
 | name            = Walt Williams
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
 | weight_lb       = 219
 | birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1970|04|16}}
-| birth_place     = [[Washington, D.C.]]
+| birth_place     = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
 | death_date      =
 | death_place     =
-| nationality     = American
 | high_school     = {{nowrap|[[Crossland High School|Crossland]] ([[Temple Hills, Maryland]])}}
 | college         = [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]] (1988–1992)
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 | stat3label      = [[Three-point field goal|3P%]]
 | stat3value      = .379
-| bbr             = williwa02
 | medal_templates =
 {{MedalSport|Men's [[Basketball]]}}
@@ Line 54: / Line 53: @@
 {{MedalBronze| [[1991 Pan American Games|1991 Havana]] | [[Basketball at the 1991 Pan American Games|Team Competition]]}}
 }}
-'''Walter Ander "The Wizard" Williams''' (born April 16, 1970) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player.  A sharpshooting 6'8" forward/guard, Williams attended school at the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|University of Maryland]] from 1988 to 1992, and is credited by many{{who|date=November 2020}} for resurrecting the school's basketball program which was going through very difficult times.
+'''Walter Ander "The Wizard" Williams''' (born April 16, 1970) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player. A sharpshooting 6'8" [[swingman]], Williams attended school at the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|University of Maryland]] from 1988 to 1992, and has been credited for helping to revive the school's basketball program.
+==Early life==
+Williams grew up in [[Temple Hills, Maryland]] and attended [[Crossland High School]].<ref name="wpost">{{cite news|author=Goldwein, Eric|title=Former Maryland star Walt Williams keeps basketball in the family as a high school assistant coach|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/former-maryland-basketball-star-walt-williams-stays-on-top-of-his-game-as-an-assistant-high-school-coach/2016/01/25/c5bd63d8-bdbe-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html|work=The Washington Post|date=January 25, 2016|accessdate=February 8, 2024}}</ref>
 ==College career==
+Williams began playing for the University of Maryland only two years after the death of star [[Len Bias]] and the ensuing scandal that cost [[Charles Driesell|Lefty Driesell]] his job as coach. When Williams arrived at Maryland, the Terrapins were also on the verge of receiving major sanctions from the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] due to violations committed by Driesell's successor, [[Bob Wade (basketball coach)|Bob Wade]], that would lead to his resignation. Rather than transfer to another school, Williams chose to remain at Maryland and play under new coach [[Gary Williams]]. It was a tremendous boost for the coach, who had to start rebuilding the program from the bottom up while dealing with both the sanctions and tougher academic standards now imposed by the school.<ref>{{Cite AV media |people= |date=March 7, 2022 |title=The Wizard {{!}} A Walt Williams Documentary |type= |language= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uExHIcwPaxQ |access-date=February 8, 2024 |format=YouTube video |time= |location= |publisher=Maryland Athletics }}</ref>
-{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2020}}
-Born in Washington, D.C., Williams began his Maryland career only two years after the death of star [[Len Bias]] and the ensuing scandal that cost [[Charles Driesell|Lefty Driesell]] his job as coach.  When Williams arrived at Maryland, the Terrapins were also on the verge of receiving major sanctions from the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] due to violations committed by Driesell's successor, [[Bob Wade (basketball coach)|Bob Wade]], that would lead to his resignation.  Rather than transfer to another school, Williams chose to remain at Maryland and play under new coach [[Gary Williams]].  It was a tremendous boost for the coach, who had to start rebuilding the program from the bottom up while dealing with both the sanctions and tougher academic standards now imposed by the school.  Williams was on the Associated Press All-America Second Team as a senior at Maryland in 1991–92, averaging a school-record 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals.  He scored 20 or more points in 19 straight games and broke Len Bias's single-season point total record at Maryland by chalking up 776 points as a senior.
+Williams was on the Associated Press All-America Second Team as a senior at Maryland in 1991–92, averaging a school-record 26.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals. He scored 20 or more points in 19 straight games and broke Len Bias's single-season point total record at Maryland by chalking up 776 points as a senior.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
 ==Professional career==
-Williams was selected by the [[Sacramento Kings]] with the seventh pick of the [[1992 NBA draft]] and was on the 1992–93 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.  He went on to play 11 seasons in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], spending time with the Kings, the [[Miami Heat]], the [[Toronto Raptors]], the [[Portland Trail Blazers]], the [[Houston Rockets]], and the [[Dallas Mavericks]].<ref>[http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1017/1447435.html Mavs sign Williams to fill small forward void]</ref>  Williams stands third in Rockets history with a 3-point percentage of .393.  Williams averaged double digits in scoring in six of eight NBA seasons and scored 8,385 points in his career.
+Williams was selected by the [[Sacramento Kings]] with the seventh pick of the [[1992 NBA draft]] and was on the 1992–93 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.  He went on to play 11 seasons in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], spending time with Kings, [[Miami Heat]], [[Toronto Raptors]], [[Portland Trail Blazers]], [[Houston Rockets]], and [[Dallas Mavericks]].<ref>[https://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1017/1447435.html Mavs sign Williams to fill small forward void]</ref>  Williams stands third in Rockets history with a 3-point percentage of .393.  He averaged double digits in scoring in six of eight NBA seasons and scored 8,385 points in his career.
 Williams participated in the AT&T Shootout during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.
-Williams is known for wearing his socks to his knees,<ref>{{cite news |author1=R.E. Graswich |title=Kings' Williams is long on socks, but short of breath in Arco debut |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-11-02-1992307133-story.html |access-date=26 November 2020 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=2 November 1992}}</ref> he wore them high in honor of boyhood idol [[George Gervin]].
+Williams is known for wearing his socks to his knees,<ref>{{cite news |author1=R.E. Graswich |title=Kings' Williams is long on socks, but short of breath in Arco debut |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-11-02-1992307133-story.html |accessdate=November 26, 2020 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=November 2, 1992}}</ref> a style which he adopted in honor of his boyhood idol [[George Gervin]]. This was also a popular fashion trend among the youth in the D.C. Metro area at that time.
-In June 2018, Williams and fellow former Maryland basketball star Tony Massenburg, co-wrote the book ''Lessons From Lenny.''  The book is biographical and dives into how the death on Len Bias affected their lives and basketball decisions.  ''Lessons From Lenny,'' features contributions from Gary Williams and Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Len Elmore, Johnny Rhodes, Keith Booth, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lessons From Lenny|url=https://www.whyderangeproductions.com/lessons-from-lenny|access-date=2021-03-05|website=www.whyderangeproductions.com}}</ref>
+In June 2018, Williams and fellow former Maryland basketball star Tony Massenburg, co-wrote the book ''Lessons From Lenny.''  The book is biographical and dives into how the death on Len Bias affected their lives and basketball decisions.  ''Lessons From Lenny,'' features contributions from Gary Williams and Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Len Elmore, Johnny Rhodes, Keith Booth, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lessons From Lenny|url=https://www.whyderangeproductions.com/lessons-from-lenny|accessdate=March 5, 2021|website=www.whyderangeproductions.com}}</ref>
-==National team career==
+===National team career===
-Williams played on the US team at the 1991 Pan American Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eleventh Pan American games -- 1991 |url=https://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/eleventh-pan-american-games-1991.aspx |access-date=26 November 2020 |work=[[USA Basketball]] |date=10 June 2010}}</ref>
+Williams played on the US team at the 1991 Pan American Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eleventh Pan American games -- 1991 |url=https://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/eleventh-pan-american-games-1991.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506101720/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-mens/eleventh-pan-american-games-1991.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 6, 2015 |accessdate=November 26, 2020 |work=[[USA Basketball]] |date=June 10, 2010}}</ref>
 ==Other activities==
-He established a $125,000 scholarship fund at Maryland which benefits minority students in honor of his late father, Walter Sr.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Jamison Hensley |title=Father's memory prompts endowment W. Williams' scholarship first by a Terps athlete |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-02-11-1996042084-story.html |access-date=26 November 2020 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=11 February 1996}}</ref>
+While in the NBA, Williams established a $125,000 scholarship fund at the University of Maryland which benefits minority students, in honor of his late father, Walter Sr.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Jamison Hensley |title=Father's memory prompts endowment W. Williams' scholarship first by a Terps athlete |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/02/11/fathers-memory-prompts-endowment-w-williams-scholarship-first-by-a-terps-athlete/ |accessdate=February 8, 2024 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=February 11, 1996}}</ref>
-Williams serves as a sideline reporter for radio broadcasts of University of Maryland men's basketball games.<ref>http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=209285526</ref>
+Williams serves as a sideline reporter for radio broadcasts of University of Maryland men's basketball games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=209285526 |title=Walt Williams Bio - Maryland Terrapins Athletics - University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site |website=www.umterps.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207190538/http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=209285526 |archive-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref>
-==Film==
+===Film===
 In 1996, he appeared in the film ''[[Eddie (film)|Eddie]]'' starring [[Whoopi Goldberg]].
-Walt Williams appeared in the [[Hootie & the Blowfish]] music video for the number one song "[[Only Wanna Be with You]]".
+Walt Williams also appeared in the [[Hootie & the Blowfish]] music video for the number one song "[[Only Wanna Be with You]]".
+==Personal life==
+After retiring from the NBA, Williams moved to [[Brookeville, Maryland]] and had three sons there with his wife April. He became a coach for his sons' basketball team at [[Sherwood High School (Maryland)|Sherwood High School]].<ref name="wpost"/>
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
@@ Line 88: / Line 96: @@
 {{United States Men Basketball Squad 1991 Pan American Games}}
-{{1992 NBA Draft}}
+{{1992 NBA draft}}
 {{1992 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans}}
 {{Authority control}}
@@ Line 95: / Line 103: @@
 [[Category:1970 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:African-American basketball players]]
+[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
+[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
 [[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
 [[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada]]
@@ Line 101: / Line 110: @@
 [[Category:Basketball players at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
 [[Category:Basketball players from Maryland]]
-[[Category:Basketball players from Washington, D.C.]]
 [[Category:Dallas Mavericks players]]
 [[Category:Houston Rockets players]]
 [[Category:Maryland Terrapins men's basketball players]]
+[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
 [[Category:Miami Heat players]]
-[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States]]
+[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in basketball]]
-[[Category:Pan American Games medalists in basketball]]
 [[Category:Portland Trail Blazers players]]
 [[Category:Sacramento Kings draft picks]]
@@ Line 114: / Line 122: @@
 [[Category:Small forwards]]
 [[Category:Toronto Raptors players]]
-[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
-[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
-[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]

v t e 1992 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans
First Team	Jim Jackson Christian Laettner Harold Miner Alonzo Mourning Shaquille O'Neal
Second Team	Byron Houston Don MacLean Anthony Peeler Malik Sealy Walt Williams