Chris Williams (basketball)

Chris Williams
Personal information
Born	July 9, 1980; Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Died	March 15, 2017 (aged 36); Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High school	Minor (Adamsville, Alabama)
College	Virginia (1998–2002)
NBA draft	2002: undrafted
Playing career	2002–2013
Position	Small forward
Career history
2002–2003	Sydney Kings
2003–2005	Skyliners Frankfurt
2005–2007	Mobis Phoebus
2007–2008	Türk Telekom
2008–2009	Qingdao Double Star
2009	San Miguel Beermen
2009–2010	Qingdao Double Star
2010–2011	Mahram Tehran
2011–2012	Goyang Orions
2012–2013	Foolad Mahan Isfahan
Career highlights and awards
	EuroLeague steals leader (2005); CBA steals leader (2010); KBL champion (2007); KBL Season Best 5 (2006); KBL Foreign Player MVP (2006); German League Finals MVP (2005); German League Most Valuable Player (2005); NBL champion (2003); NBL Grand Final MVP (2003); NBL Most Valuable Player (2003); All-NBL First Team (2003); Second-team All-ACC (2000); 2× Third-team All-ACC (1999, 2001); ACC Rookie of the Year (1999);
Representing United States
Men's basketball
FIBA U19 World Championship

Chris Williams (July 9, 1980 – March 15, 2017) was an American professional basketball player. He was a 6 ft 6 in tall (198 cm) small forward.

College career

Williams played college basketball at the University of Virginia, with the Virginia Cavaliers. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1999. He was also named Second Team All-ACC in 2000, and Third Team All-ACC in 1999 and 2001. He had the nickname "Big Smooth".^[1]

Professional career

Williams led the 2004–05 EuroLeague in steals, with 2.8 per game, while playing with the Frankfurt Skyliners. He won the Germany BBL championship with Frankfurt, in 2004. From 2005 to 2007, he played in South Korea's KBL, with Ulsan Mobis Phoebus. He also played with Qingdao DoubleStar in China's CBA, and with Mahram Tehran in Iran's Basketball Super League.

Prior to playing in the EuroLeague, Williams played as an import for the Sydney Kings in Australia's NBL. With the Kings, he was a leading scorer, he shot at a high percentage, and he was a top rated rebounder, which were key components to the Kings winning their first ever NBL championship. He was awarded the MVP of the league, and the MVP of the league's final.

In a game between Qingdao and Dongguan Leopards, on December 25, 2009, Williams produced the second ever Quadruple-double in CBA history, as he finished the game with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 steals. Qingdao won the game 122–103.^[2]

On October 10, 2013, Williams was named to the Sydney Kings' 25th Anniversary Team.^[3]

Personal

Williams died on March 15, 2017, due to blood clots in his heart.^[4]

References

^ Reid, Whitelaw. "Chris Williams July 9, 1980–March 15, 2017". UVA Magazine.
^ 威廉姆斯砍四双助青岛首胜杜万低迷东莞遭三连败. sina.com.cn (in Chinese). December 25, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
^ MightyMite Sydney Kings announce 25th Anniversary Team Archived October 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Virginia Basketball loses a legend, Chris Williams passes". Archived from the original on 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-03-15.

External links

[1] Reid, Whitelaw. "Chris Williams July 9, 1980–March 15, 2017". UVA Magazine.

[2] 威廉姆斯砍四双助青岛首胜杜万低迷东莞遭三连败. sina.com.cn (in Chinese). December 25, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2010.

[3] MightyMite Sydney Kings announce 25th Anniversary Team Archived October 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

[4] "Virginia Basketball loses a legend, Chris Williams passes". Archived from the original on 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2017-03-15.

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