I still remember the first time I saw Derrick Williams step onto an NBA court - that explosive athleticism just jumped off the screen. Looking at his career stats now, it's fascinating to trace the journey of a player who once carried such high expectations. Williams averaged 8.9 points and 4.0 rebounds across his seven-season NBA journey, bouncing between six different teams from 2011 to 2018. Those numbers don't exactly scream superstar, but they tell a story of persistence in a league that's notoriously difficult to stick in.
What many casual fans might not realize is how dramatically Williams transformed his game over the years. I've always been fascinated by players who reinvent themselves, and Williams' shift from a traditional power forward to a modern stretch-four was particularly compelling. His three-point percentage tells the story - starting at a miserable 21% his rookie year before climbing to a respectable 34% by his final NBA season. That evolution speaks volumes about a player willing to adapt to survive in an ever-changing league.
There's this narrative that sometimes gets overlooked when we discuss players like Williams - the context of their development. But once upon a time, they were nowhere near their formidable statures. I recall watching Williams during his Minnesota years thinking he just needed the right system to flourish. His athletic peak came during the 2013-14 season with Sacramento, where he put up 9.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game. The efficiency was actually there - 45% from the field - but the fit never quite materialized into something sustainable.
What really stands out when you dive into Williams NBA career stats and highlights you need to see now are those moments of pure brilliance that remind you why he was the second overall pick. That 25-point explosion against Miami in 2013 where he went 5-for-7 from deep, or the time he posterized three defenders in a single play against Detroit. These flashes showed the player he could have become with different circumstances or development paths. I've always believed timing and situation matter almost as much as talent in the NBA, and Williams' career somewhat proves that theory.
The international chapter of Williams' career actually reveals something interesting about player development. After his NBA run, he put up impressive numbers overseas - 19.2 points per game with Bayern Munich in 2019-20, showing he still had plenty of basketball left in him. It makes me wonder if today's NBA, with its emphasis on spacing and versatility, might have been a better fit for his skillset. Sometimes players are just ahead of their time, and I suspect Williams might fall into that category.
Reflecting on Williams' journey gives me perspective about how we evaluate NBA careers. Not every high draft pick becomes a superstar, but maintaining a professional career across multiple continents for over a decade is an accomplishment in itself. The numbers - 3,841 total points, 1,703 rebounds, those 84 blocked shots - they're more than just statistics. They represent the grind, the early morning workouts, the endless travel, and the determination to keep playing the game at the highest level possible. In many ways, that persistence is as impressive as any highlight reel.