Alvin Williams
Encyclopedia
Alvin Leon Williams is a retired American
professional basketball
player of the National Basketball Association, and current Director of Player Development of the Toronto Raptors
.
at Villanova University
. The Portland Trail Blazers
drafted him in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft
, and Williams began his career there before going on to join the Toronto Raptors
in 1998. He appeared in all 82 games for two straight seasons, 2001–02 and 2002-03. After missing a third of the 2003-04 and the entire 2004-05 season with a knee injury, Williams re-joined the lineup at the start of the 2005-06 season. Unfortunately, the injured knee forced Williams back on the injured list after playing just one game that season.
On July 26, 2006, Williams was waived by the Raptors to make room for free agent guard Fred Jones. Reports said both the team and Williams had reached an agreement that resulted in the Raptors only having to pay half of Williams' remaining salary. Interestingly, Jones was assigned Williams' #20 jersey number the next day.
On January 20, 2007, Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers
. He was not signed to a second contract after the first expired after appearing in two games in limited action.
On July 1, 2009, the Raptors announced the hiring of Williams as an assistant coach for the team. This would mark the return of Williams to the organization since being waived by the team less than three years earlier.
On September 24, 2010, the Raptors announced that Williams will transition to the front office as the team’s Director of Player Development.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player of the National Basketball Association, and current Director of Player Development of the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
.
Basketball career
Williams played college basketballCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. The Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
drafted him in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft
1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
, and Williams began his career there before going on to join the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
in 1998. He appeared in all 82 games for two straight seasons, 2001–02 and 2002-03. After missing a third of the 2003-04 and the entire 2004-05 season with a knee injury, Williams re-joined the lineup at the start of the 2005-06 season. Unfortunately, the injured knee forced Williams back on the injured list after playing just one game that season.
On July 26, 2006, Williams was waived by the Raptors to make room for free agent guard Fred Jones. Reports said both the team and Williams had reached an agreement that resulted in the Raptors only having to pay half of Williams' remaining salary. Interestingly, Jones was assigned Williams' #20 jersey number the next day.
On January 20, 2007, Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He was not signed to a second contract after the first expired after appearing in two games in limited action.
On July 1, 2009, the Raptors announced the hiring of Williams as an assistant coach for the team. This would mark the return of Williams to the organization since being waived by the team less than three years earlier.
On September 24, 2010, the Raptors announced that Williams will transition to the front office as the team’s Director of Player Development.