Maurice Williams (basketball) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Maurice "Mo" Williams is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for 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...

of the National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

. After a successful high school career at Murrah High School

Murrah High School

Murrah High School is a public high school in Jackson, Mississippi . It is part of the Jackson Public School District.-Demographics:There were a total of about 1,600 students enrolled in Murrah High during the 2008-2009 school year. The gender makeup of the district was 56% female and 44% male...

, Williams attended college at the University of Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

where he led his team as a freshman to a 27-8 record, and also shared an SEC regular season championship. After two solid seasons at Alabama, Williams entered the 2003 NBA Draft

2003 NBA Draft

The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...

, and was selected as the 47th pick of the second round by the Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

. The following year he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....

as a free agent

Free agent

In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

. Williams was given the starting point guard

Point guard

Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...

position after Milwaukee traded their former starting point guard, T.J. Ford to 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...

. This movement opened up a chance for Williams to make a name for himself not only on the Milwaukee Bucks, but in the NBA as well.
Williams averaged over 30 minutes a game, as well as other career achievements.

On August 13, 2008, Williams was a part of a three-team, six-player deal involving the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....

.
Williams was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and was immediately named their starting point guard. He began scoring big numbers alongside LeBron James

LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...

.

Williams played in his first All-Star Game in 2009

2009 NBA All-Star Game

The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on February 15, 2009 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Phoenix Suns. The game was the 58th edition of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2008–09 NBA season...

as a replacement for Toronto's injured Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh

Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ....

College

Maurice Williams attended college at the University of Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

under Mark Gottfried

Mark Gottfried

Mark Frederick Gottfried is an American men's college basketball coach and former player. He was named head coach of NC State on April 5, 2011....

. In 2002 as a freshman, he started every game at point guard. Williams averaged 10.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. His play helped lead the Tide to a 27-8 record, including an astonishing 17-0 home record, along with a share of the SEC regular season championship. Williams and the Tide entered the NCAA tournament

NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...

as a 2 seed, where they lost to Kent State 71-58 in the 2nd round. Williams led the team in scoring and assists, averaging 16.4 points and 3.8 assists per game for the 2003 season, which ended in a first round loss in the NCAA tournament to Indiana.

After two seasons, Williams decided to forego his final two years at Alabama, and enter the 2003 NBA Draft

2003 NBA Draft

, which also included LeBron James

LeBron James

, Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. nicknamed Flash or D-Wade, is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat. Awarded 2006 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, Wade has established himself as one of the most well-known and popular players in the league...

, Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...

, Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh

Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ....

, and others.

Utah Jazz

Williams was selected by the Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

in the second round, 47th overall of the 2003 NBA Draft

2003 NBA Draft

. He averaged 5 points and 1.3 assists for the Jazz in his rookie

Rookie

Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...

season. The following year he was released by the Jazz, then he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks

Filling in for Bucks' injured starting point guard T. J. Ford

T. J. Ford

Terrance Jerod "T. J." Ford is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for KK Zagreb. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks...

, Williams averaged 10.2 points and 6.1 assists during the 2004-05 season

2004-05 NBA season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....

. In his new role coming off of the bench for the up-and-coming Bucks team, he showed a knack for clutch plays, making several game winning shots in the 2005-06 season

2005-06 NBA season

The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...

.

In the 2006 off-season the Bucks traded Ford to the Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors

for power forward

Power forward (basketball)

Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...

Charlie Villanueva

Charlie Alexander Villanueva is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association....

. This opened up a position in the starting lineup for Williams. In the first 19 games of the 2006-07 season

2006-07 NBA season

The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...

Williams averaged 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists in nearly 35 minutes per game, all career highs.

On December 20, 2006 Bucks game vs. the Miami Heat

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...

, Williams recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Williams was a free agent in summer 2007, but decided to stay with the Bucks by signing a six-year, $52 million deal.

Cleveland Cavaliers

On August 13, 2008, Williams was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

in a three-team, six-player deal involving the Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks

, and the Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder

that also sent Cleveland's Joe Smith and Milwaukee's Desmond Mason

Desmond Mason

Desmond Tremaine Mason is an American former professional basketball player. He was designated as a shooting guard and small forward.-Career:...

to Oklahoma City and sent Cleveland's Damon Jones

Damon Jones

Damon Darron Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" point guard–shooting guard, he played college basketball for three years with the University of Houston Cougars before declaring early for the 1997 NBA Draft, but he went undrafted.-High school career:Jones played for...

and Oklahoma City's Luke Ridnour

Luke Ridnour

Lucas Robin "Luke" Ridnour is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was born in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and grew up in Blaine, Washington.- High school career :...

and Adrian Griffin

Adrian Griffin

Adrian Darnell Griffin is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:Griffin attended Seton Hall University and was a three-year starter...

to Milwaukee. Upon his arrival, he changed his jersey number to #2 because his traditional #25 was already retired by former Cavalier Mark Price

Mark Price

William Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...

.

On February 10, 2009, Williams was chosen to replace forward Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh

Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association ....

in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game

2009 NBA All-Star Game

. He was the second alternate choice, after Ray Allen

Ray Allen

Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...

, who replaced an injured Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...

.

On February 11, 2009, Mo Williams scored a career high 44 points to go along with 7 assists against the Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...

.

During the 2008–09 season, Mo Williams helped the Cleveland Cavaliers reach a league-leading 66–16 record. The team went 39–2 at the Quicken Loans Arena

Quicken Loans Arena

Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....

.

After the departure of LeBron James

LeBron James

, Williams became a very vocal member of the Cavaliers. Amidst trade rumors, Mo begged on his Twitter account not to be traded. He also criticized the events surrounding LeBron's plight from Cleveland and even shot back at insults made to the Cavaliers by Miami Heat

Miami Heat

guard Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade

.

On November 14, 2010, Williams made his first buzzer beater as a Cavalier, to win the game 83-81 over the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a 15 foot shot over Brandon Jennings as time expired. He scored a total of 25 points in the game and was the team's leading scorer.

Los Angeles Clippers

On February 24, 2011, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers

along with Jamario Moon

Jamario Moon

Jamario Raman Moon is an American professional basketball player. Moon played college basketball for one season at Meridian Community College and began his professional career with teams in the United States Basketball League and NBA Development League, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Mexican...

in exchange for Baron Davis

Baron Davis

Baron Walter Louis Davis is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Davis was a star at Crossroads School and UCLA....

and a first round pick, which ended up being the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft

2011 NBA Draft

The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...

Regular season

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

| 57 || 0 || 13.5 || .380 || .256 || .786 || 1.3 || 1.3 || .5 || .0 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Milwaukee

Milwaukee Bucks

| 80 || 80 || 28.2 || .438 || .323 || .850 || 3.1 || 6.1 || .9 || .1 || 10.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 58 || 12 || 26.4 || .424 || .382 || .850 || 2.5 || 4.0 || .9 || .1 || 12.1
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 68 || 68 || 36.4 || .446 || .346 || .855 || 4.8 || 6.1 || 1.2 || .1 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 66 || 66 || 36.5 || .480 || .385 || .856 || 3.5 || 6.3 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09

2008–09 NBA season

The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...

| align="left" | Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

| 81 || 81 || 35.0 || .467 || .436 || .912 || 3.4 || 4.1 || 0.9 || .1 || 17.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10

2009–10 NBA season

The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....

| align="left" | Cleveland
| 69 || 68 || 34.2 || .442 || .429 || .894 || 3.0 || 5.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 15.8
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11

2010–11 NBA season

The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...

| align="left" | Cleveland
| 36 || 34 || 29.6 || .385 || .265 || .833 || 2.7 || 7.1 || 0.9 || .3 || 13.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers

| 22 || 22 || 32.9 || .422 || .398 || .880 || 2.5 || 5.6 || .9 || .0 || 15.2
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2"| Career
| 537 || 431 || 30.6 || .443 || .386 || .867 || 3.1 || 5.0 || 1.0 || .1 || 13.9
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2"| All-Star
| 1 || 0 || 17.0 || .500 || .400 || .000 || 2.0 || 5.0 || .0 || .0 || 12.0

Playoffs

|-
| align="left" | 2005–06

2006 NBA Playoffs

The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...

| align="left" | Milwaukee

Milwaukee Bucks

| 5 || 0 || 15.0 || .500 || .182 || .000 || .6 || 2.0 || .2 || .0 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09

2009 NBA Playoffs

The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...

| align="left" | Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

| 14 || 14 || 38.6 || .408 || .372 || .767 || 3.2 || 4.1 || .7 || .1 || 16.3
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10

2010 NBA Playoffs

The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...

| align="left" | Cleveland
| 11 || 11 || 37.4 || .409 || .327 || .804 || 3.1 || 5.4 || .6 || .2 || 14.4
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center" colspan="2"| Career
| 30 || 25 || 34.2 || .417 || .344 || .787 || 2.7 || 4.2 || .6 || .1 || 14.1

Career highs

Points: 44 vs. Phoenix 02/11/09
Rebounds: 11 vs. Miami 12/20/06
Assists: 15 @ Chicago 12/28/07
Steals: 6 @ Charlotte 01/06/08
Blocks: 4 vs. Atlanta 04/02/10

External links

Mo Williams at NBA.com
Mo Williams Stats at ESPN.com
Mo Williams NBA Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
Mo Williams College Basketball Statistics at Sports-Reference.com
Mo Williams Foundation

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