Thomas Ray Williams, known as
Ray Williams (born October 14, 1954, in
Mount Vernon, New YorkMount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
), is a retired
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
basketballBasketball 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 in the NBA. He is 6'2½" (1.89 m) and 188 lb (85 kg) guard. He averaged 15.5 points per game and 5.8 assists per game during his NBA career, with a career-high of 20.9 points per game with the
New York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in
1979-80-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics*All-NBA First Team:**Paul Westphal, Phoenix Suns...
. In the same year, he averaged 5.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.
Williams, who played at the
University of MinnesotaThe Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1905...
and
San Jacinto Junior CollegeSan Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
, was selected 10th overall in the
1977 NBA DraftThe 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the
New York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. After playing for six different teams, he retired in 1987. He is the younger brother of Gus Williams, who also played in the NBA.
Upon retirement, Williams struggled to find long-term work and filed for
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. He has since been critical of the NBA for not assisting its former players. After spending over a year unemployed and
homelessHomelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
in
Pompano Beach, FloridaPompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
, Williams took a position as a "Recreation Specialist" for the city of
Mount Vernon, New YorkMount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
in November 2010.
College career
Williams went to the
University of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where he played with the
Golden GophersThe Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1905...
from 1975 to 1977. During that time, he averaged 18.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg.
NBA career
Williams was selected by the
New York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round of the
1977 NBA DraftThe 1977 NBA Draft was the 31st annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1977 before the 1977–78 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
(10th pick overall). After a quiet first season, he improved his effectiveness in the court, averaging 20.9 ppg, 5 rpg, and 6.2 apg during his third season (
1979-80-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics*All-NBA First Team:**Paul Westphal, Phoenix Suns...
) and becoming the team captain during his fourth season. During his time with the Knicks, he reached the
NBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
twice.
After four seasons with the Knicks, Williams signed with the
New Jersey NetsThe 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...
on October 25, 1981, in exchange for
Maurice LucasMaurice Lucas was an American professional basketball player. The first two years of his postcollegiate career were spent in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels...
. With the Nets, Williams averaged 20.4 ppg, 4 rpg, and 6 apg (
1981-82 season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Moses Malone, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets*Coach of the Year: Gene Shue, Washington Bullets*All-NBA First Team:**Larry Bird, Boston Celtics...
). On April 17, 1982, Williams scored 52 points in a game against the
Detroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, for the highest-scoring game of his career. Williams eventually helped the Nets reach the
1982 NBA PlayoffsThe 1982 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1981-1982 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers, four games to two in the NBA Finals...
where he averaged 17 ppg, 6 rpg, and 7 apg. However, they ended up being eliminated by the Washington Bullets on the first round.
On June 29, 1982, the Nets traded Williams to the Kansas City Kings for Phil Ford. After one season, they traded him back to the New York Knicks for
Billy KnightWilliam R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
and an amount of cash. He reached the playoffs once again with the Knicks, averaging 11.2 ppg and 8 apg.
In the middle of the
1984-85 season-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz...
, Williams signed as a free agent with the
Boston CelticsThe 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...
, in exchange for two future draft picks. During this year, he had the chance to play with
Larry BirdLarry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
and
Kevin McHaleKevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
. With Boston, he reached the playoffs one last time. This time, the Celtics reached the
FinalsThe 1985 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1984–85 NBA season.The Boston Celtics were looking to repeat as NBA Champions for the first time since the . The Celtics had homecourt advantage for the second year in a row as they finished the regular season with a 63-19...
, but were eliminated by the
Los Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Before the
1985-86 season-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
, Williams signed with the
Los Angeles ClippersThe 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...
, with Boston receiving a future draft pick as compensation. The Clippers, however, waived him before the season began. Williams eventually signed with the
Atlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. After 19 games, he was waived by the Hawks, but signed with the
San Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
later. After 23 games, he was also waived by the Spurs and claimed by the Nets. Williams played the remainder of the season with them and remained with the team during the next season, after which he retired.
Williams ended with a career average of 15.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, and 3.6 rpg.
Regular season
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1977–78
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 81 || ... || 19.1 || .443 || ... || .705 || 2.6 || 4.5 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1978–79
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 81 || ... || 29.3 || .457 || ... || .802 || 3.6 || 6.2 || 1.6 || 0.2 || 17.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1979–80
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|
82 || ... || 31.5 ||
.496 || .189 || .787 ||
5.0 || 6.2 || 2.0 || 0.3 ||
20.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1980–81
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 79 || ... ||
34.7 || .461 || .235 || .817 || 4.1 || 5.5 || 2.3 ||
0.5 || 19.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1981–82
| style="text-align:left;"|
New JerseyThe 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...
|
82 ||
69 || 33.3 || .462 || .167 || .832 || 4.0 || 6.0 ||
2.4 ||
0.5 || 20.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1982–83
| style="text-align:left;"| Kansas City
| 72 || 68 || 30.1 || .392 || .203 || .769 || 4.5 ||
7.9 || 1.7 || 0.4 || 15.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1983–84
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 76 || 63 || 29.3 || .445 || .309 || .827 || 3.5 || 5.9 || 2.1 || 0.3 || 14.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1984–85
| style="text-align:left;"|
BostonThe 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...
| 23 || 5 || 20.0 || .385 || .261 || .674 || 2.5 || 3.9 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 6.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1985–86
| style="text-align:left;"|
AtlantaThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
| 19 || 12 || 19.3 || .399 ||
.364 || .854 || 2.4 || 3.5 || 1.5 || 0.1 || 8.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1985–86
| style="text-align:left;"|
San AntonioThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
| 23 || 9 || 17.3 || .382 || .333 ||
.969 || 1.6 || 4.8 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1985–86
| style="text-align:left;"|
New JerseyThe 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...
| 5 || 0 || 12.6 || .313 || .000 || .857 || 0.8 || 1.8 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 6.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1986–87
| style="text-align:left;"|
New JerseyThe 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...
| 32 || 14 || 25.0 || .452 || .250 || .817 || 2.3 || 5.8 || 1.2 || 0.3 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 655 || 240 || 28.2 || .451 || .237 || .802 || 3.6 || 5.8 || 1.8 || 0.3 || 15.5
|-
Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1977–78
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 6 || ... || 23.3 || .526 || ... || .885 || 2.5 || 5.2 || ... || 0.0 || 17.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1980–81
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 2 || ... ||
42.0 ||
.439 || .333 || .545 || 4.0 || 4.5 || ... || 0.0 ||
21.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1981–82
| style="text-align:left;"|
New JerseyThe 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...
| 2 || ... || 38.5 || .298 ||
.400 || .800 ||
6.0 || 7.0 || ... || 0.0 || 17.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1983–84
| style="text-align:left;"|
New YorkThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 11 || ... || 28.2 || .354 || .167 || .744 || 3.5 ||
8.0 || ... || ... || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1984–85
| style="text-align:left;"|
BostonThe 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...
|
19 || ... || 14.6 || .405 || .133 ||
.960 || 1.9 || 3.2 || ... || ... || 6.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 40 || ... || 22.2 || .403 || .200 || .811 || 2.8 || 5.1 || ... || ... || 10.6
|-
Post-NBA career
After his retirement, Williams struggled financially eventually filing for
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1994, which led him to lose his home and family. Williams decided to apply early for his NBA pension of $200,000. After he received it, he moved to Florida, where he fell victim to a
real estateIn general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
scam which worsened his financial condition.
After that, Williams worked various jobs like groundskeeper at a golf course in Central Florida, apartment complex maintenance man, part-time girls basketball coach, and bakery worker, among others. During that time, he also received grants from the NBA Retired Players Association, totaling $10,000, which couldn't help his situation.
According to a profile published in
The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
in July 2010, he was unemployed and
homelessHomelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, living inside a car in
Pompano Beach, FloridaPompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
. Williams spent his time fishing at the Hillboro Inlet Park in Pompano Beach, to help maintain himself. In November 2010, Williams' luck began to turn around as he took a job in
Mount Vernon, New YorkMount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, working for the city's Recreation Department as a "Recreation Specialist." He was greatly helped by Linda Crawford, a nurse and a friend from his NBA days. Williams and Crawford married in August 2011.
External links