Eric Williams (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Eric C. Williams is an American
professional basketball
who, until 2007, had played in the National Basketball Association
.
Following a collegiate career which began at Burlington County College
in New Jersey
, then Vincennes University
in Indiana
, followed by Providence College
in Rhode Island
, the 6' 8" small forward
was selected by the Boston Celtics
with the 14th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft
. He played two years with them before being traded to the Denver Nuggets
during the 1997 offseason for a couple of second round draft picks. The Nuggets only got four games out of Williams during the 1997-98 campaign due to him tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee. The following season he returned, but only played in 38 of 82 regular season games with Denver before they repatriated him back to Boston along with Danny Fortson
and Eric Washington
plus a future draft pick in exchange for Ron Mercer
, Ronald "Popeye" Jones
, and Dwayne Schintzius
. His second tenure with the Celtics lasted over four seasons until they traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers
along with Tony Battie
and Kedrick Brown
in a swap for Ricky Davis
, Chris Mihm
, Michael Stewart
, and a second round draft pick on December 15, 2003. He became a free agent after 50 games with the Cavaliers, and signed with the New Jersey Nets
prior to the 2004-05 season. Williams was soon part of a blockbuster player trade when the Nets sent him, Aaron Williams
, Alonzo Mourning
and two future first-round draft picks to the Toronto Raptors
for franchise player Vince Carter
.
He holds career averages of 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
In 2005, Williams decided to launch his own line of clothing honoring the fictional Negro Basketball League.
On June 21, 2006, Williams was traded with Matt Bonner
and a second round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
to San Antonio for Rasho Nesterovič and cash.
On February 13, 2007 he was traded along with the 2nd round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
that the Spurs got from the Raptors to the Charlotte Bobcats
for Melvin Ely
. On March 16, Williams was waived by the Bobcats to make room for Alan Anderson.
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...
who, until 2007, had played in 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...
.
Following a collegiate career which began at Burlington County College
Burlington County College
Burlington County College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Burlington County, New Jersey...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, then Vincennes University
Vincennes University
Vincennes University is a public university in Vincennes, Indiana, in the United States. Founded in 1801 as Jefferson Academy, VU is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Indiana. Since 1889, VU has been a two-year university, although baccalaureate degrees in seven select areas are...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, followed by Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, the 6' 8" small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
was selected by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 14th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft
1995 NBA Draft
The 1995 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1995 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft for the two Canadian expansion teams, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies...
. He played two years with them before being traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
during the 1997 offseason for a couple of second round draft picks. The Nuggets only got four games out of Williams during the 1997-98 campaign due to him tearing the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee. The following season he returned, but only played in 38 of 82 regular season games with Denver before they repatriated him back to Boston along with Danny Fortson
Danny Fortson
Daniel Anthony Fortson is an American former professional basketball player. He played power forward/center in the NBA from 1997 to 2007.-Early life:...
and Eric Washington
Eric Washington
Eric Maurice Washington is an American basketball player.He was selected in the 1997 NBA Draft as the 48th overall pick by the Orlando Magic, and appeared for the Denver Nuggets during two seasons, from 1997 to 1999...
plus a future draft pick in exchange for Ron Mercer
Ron Mercer
Ronald Eugene Mercer is a former American basketball player at the University of Kentucky who also had a career in the National Basketball Association; the last time he played was for the New Jersey Nets in 2005.-Basketball career:...
, Ronald "Popeye" Jones
Popeye Jones
Ronald Jerome "Popeye" Jones is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He is now an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets....
, and Dwayne Schintzius
Dwayne Schintzius
Dwayne Kenneth Schintzius is a former American college and professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft...
. His second tenure with the Celtics lasted over four seasons until they traded him 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...
along with Tony Battie
Tony Battie
Demetrius Antonio Battie is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Philadelphia 76ers.-High school and college career:...
and Kedrick Brown
Kedrick Brown
Albert Kedrick Brown is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Bornova Belediye, a Turkish professional basketball team....
in a swap for Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis
Tyree Ricardo Davis , better known as Ricky Davis, is an American professional basketball player.-Biography:...
, Chris Mihm
Chris Mihm
Christopher Steven Mihm is a 7 ft , 265 pound American professional basketball player currently a free agent. He was drafted with the 7th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.-Early life:...
, Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart (basketball)
Michael Curtis "Yogi" Stewart is a retired American basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, and a second round draft pick on December 15, 2003. He became a free agent after 50 games with the Cavaliers, and signed with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
prior to the 2004-05 season. Williams was soon part of a blockbuster player trade when the Nets sent him, Aaron Williams
Aaron Williams
Aaron Williams is an American former professional basketball player. He played at the power forward and center positions.-Basketball career:...
, Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
and two future first-round draft picks 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...
for franchise player Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....
.
He holds career averages of 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
In 2005, Williams decided to launch his own line of clothing honoring the fictional Negro Basketball League.
On June 21, 2006, Williams was traded with Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner
Matthew Robert "Matt" Bonner is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Bonner played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the...
and a second round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
to San Antonio for Rasho Nesterovič and cash.
On February 13, 2007 he was traded along with the 2nd round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
that the Spurs got from the Raptors to the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
for Melvin Ely
Melvin Ely
Melvin Anderson Ely is an American professional basketball player who last played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets....
. On March 16, Williams was waived by the Bobcats to make room for Alan Anderson.