Walt Williams
Encyclopedia
Walter Ander Williams (born April 16, 1970 in Washington, D.C.
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. A sharpshooting 6'8" forward/guard, Williams (nicknamed "The Wizard") attended school at the University of Maryland from 1988 to 1992, and is credited by many for resurrecting the school's basketball program which was going through very difficult times.
Williams began his Maryland career 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. 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 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 the Kings, the Miami Heat
, the Toronto Raptors
, the Portland Trail Blazers
, the Houston Rockets
, and the Dallas Mavericks
. 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 is known for wearing his socks to his knees, he wore them high in honor of boyhood idol George Gervin
.
Williams played on the US team at the 1991 Pan American Games.
Williams participated in the AT&T Shootout during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.
He established a $125,000 scholarship fund at Maryland which benefits minority students in honor of his late father, Walter Sr.
Williams appeared in 1996 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
".
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is a retired American
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. A sharpshooting 6'8" forward/guard, Williams (nicknamed "The Wizard") attended school at the University of Maryland from 1988 to 1992, and is credited by many for resurrecting the school's basketball program which was going through very difficult times.
Williams began his Maryland career only two years after the death of star Len Bias
Len Bias
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose...
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
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
due to violations committed by Driesell's successor, Bob Wade
Bob Wade (basketball coach)
Robert Pernell Wade is a former men's college basketball head coach for the University of Maryland , as well as an American football defensive back for the National Football League.-Football career:...
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
Gary Williams
Gary B. Williams is an American university administrator and former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Ohio State University, Boston College, and American University. In 2002, he led Maryland to the NCAA Tournament Championship...
. 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 selected by the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
with the seventh pick of the 1992 NBA Draft
1992 NBA Draft
The 1992 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1992, in Portland, Oregon. At the time, the draft was considered to be one of the deepest drafts in NBA history. The top three picks were considered can't-miss prospects. O'Neal and Mourning are likely Hall of Famers...
and was on the 1992-93 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, spending time with the Kings, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, and the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
. 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 is known for wearing his socks to his knees, he wore them high in honor of boyhood idol George Gervin
George Gervin
George "The Iceman" Gervin is a retired American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls...
.
Williams played on the US team at the 1991 Pan American Games.
Williams participated in the AT&T Shootout during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.
He established a $125,000 scholarship fund at Maryland which benefits minority students in honor of his late father, Walter Sr.
Williams appeared in 1996 film Eddie
Eddie (film)
Eddie is a 1996 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Frank Langella. It was a moderate success, grossing $31,387,164 in the US.The film was directed by Steve Rash.- Plot summary :...
starring Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
.
Walt Williams appeared in the Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish is an American rock band that enjoyed popularity in the second half of the 1990s. They were originally formed in 1986 at the University of South Carolina by Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan. The band has recorded five studio albums to date, and has...
music video for the number one song "Only Wanna Be with You
Only Wanna Be With You
"Only Wanna Be with You" is a rock song released in July 1995 by Hootie & the Blowfish, the third single from their breakthrough album, Cracked Rear View. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and #2 on the Billboard...
".