Nate Williams
Williams with Buffalo in 2021
No. 19 – Houston Rockets
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-02-12) February 12, 1999
Sag Harbor, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeBuffalo (2018–2022)
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Salt Lake City Stars
2023Portland Trail Blazers
2023–presentHouston Rockets
2023–present→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MAC (2022)
  • Second-team All-MAC (2021)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Jeenathan "Nate" Williams Jr. (born February 12, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Buffalo Bulls of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

High school career

Williams played basketball for University Prep Charter School for Young Men in Rochester, New York. As a junior, he averaged 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game and was named to the Class AA all-state fifth team.[1] For his senior season, Williams transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, where he averaged 15.8 points per game.[2] He competed for the City Rocks on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit alongside Isaiah Stewart and Buddy Boeheim.[3] A four-star recruit, Williams committed to playing college basketball for Buffalo over offers from Syracuse, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Temple and St. Bonaventure.[4] He became the highest-rated recruit in program history per Rivals.com.[5]

College career

As a freshman at Buffalo, Williams averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He played only 9.1 minutes per game on a team that finished 32–4 and was ranked all season. In his sophomore season, he moved into the starting lineup, and averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Following the season, he worked on his ballhandling and shooting with coaches in Florida and California.[5] On November 27, 2020, Williams posted a junior season-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 74–65 win against Towson.[6] As a junior, he averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, earning Second Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors. Williams declared for the 2021 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to Buffalo.[7][8] In his senior season debut on November 10, 2021, he scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds in an 88–76 loss to sixth-ranked Michigan.[9] Williams was named to the First Team All-MAC.[10]

Professional career

Salt Lake City Stars (2022–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Williams joined the Utah Jazz for the 2022 NBA Summer League. On October 11, 2022, Williams signed an exhibit 10 contract with the Jazz,[11] but was waived the next day.[12] On October 19, Williams signed with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League.[13]

Portland Trail Blazers (2023)

On April 1, 2023, Williams signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.[14] He made his NBA debut the next day, scoring 7 points in a 107–105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the first Buffalo alumnus to play in the NBA since Sam Pellom forty years earlier.[15]

On July 28, 2023, Williams was waived by the Trail Blazers.[16]

Houston Rockets (2023–present)

On August 2, 2023, Williams signed with the Houston Rockets[17] and on October 23, his deal was converted into a two-way contract.[18] He appeared in the season opener on October 25, scoring four points in less than five minutes of play.[19]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Portland 5425.4.615.375.6673.02.0.6.410.6
Career 5425.4.615.375.6673.02.0.6.410.6

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Buffalo 3609.1.358.106.6111.7.2.2.23.2
2019–20 Buffalo 323125.7.455.318.7084.71.2.8.711.6
2020–21 Buffalo 252430.8.486.386.7086.82.41.1.417.6
2021–22 Buffalo 292932.6.490.451.6905.02.91.4.819.1
Career 1228423.5.467.355.6884.31.6.8.512.1

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, James (August 4, 2017). "After starring in basketball at UPrep, Jeenathan Williams says California here I come". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Robby (October 9, 2018). "2018-19 Buffalo Men's Basketball previews: Jeenathan Williams". Bull Run. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ Ditota, Donna (June 14, 2017). "Rochester's Class of 2018 SF Jeenathan Williams on recruitment, Syracuse basketball". The Post-Standard. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ Johnson, James (September 24, 2017). "Former UPrep basketball all-star Jeenathan Williams chooses University at Buffalo". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Scott, Jon (March 4, 2021). "Williams Rising Into UB Star". Spectrum News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (November 27, 2020). "UB's Jeenathan Williams paces Bulls in Bubbleville win against Towson". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (June 30, 2021). "UB's Jeenathan Williams withdraws from NBA draft, will return to Bulls". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (November 20, 2021). "How Jeenathan Williams has blossomed in four seasons of UB basketball". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Dickinson-led No. 6 Michigan beats Buffalo 88–76 in opener". ESPN. Associated Press. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Postseason Awards Announced" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ Rincon, Jeremy (October 11, 2022). "Utah Jazz Sign Jeenathan Williams". NBA.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ Rincon, Jeremy (October 12, 2022). "Utah Jazz Sign Micah Potter to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Stars Announce 2022-23 Training Camp Roster". oursportscentral.com. October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Trail Blazers Sign Jeenathan Williams". NBA.com. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Jeenathan Williams becomes first UB player to appear in NBA game in 40 years". Buffalo News. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Trail Blazers Waive Jeenathan Williams". NBA.com. July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  17. ↑ Patin, Trevor (August 2, 2023). "Rockets Sign Five Players". NBA.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  18. ↑ Joshi, Hiren (October 23, 2023). "Rockets Convert Nate Williams to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Jeenathan Williams 2023-24 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
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