The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/976701
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS through March 24, he posted averages of 31.0 minutes, 17.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block per contest. In his final two NBA appearances on the two-way contract, he played a combined 47 minutes and posted 12 points, six as- sists, four steals and two rebounds — but then had to go back to the G League for the remainder of the year … or so he thought. After finishing the G League season March 24 with 36 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a pair of blocks in an Agua Caliente victory, he was eligible to return to the league. He announced his presence by netting nine points in 17 minutes of a March 28 victory, and then April 9 news broke of him being rewarded for his contributions to the big league club with a multi-year deal. He told The Los Angeles Times when he met his parents to tell them the news he couldn't stop crying, leading them to ask if something was wrong. When he finally was able to get out the news, the family celebrated. Williams had chased the dream across the globe, playing professionally in France, Greece and Italy. "I scared them at first," he told the news- paper. "They realized what I was trying to do. It was a great moment." Williams celebrated that night on the court as well, logging 30 minutes of action — his most since the 37 against the Hawks — and scoring 10 points for the seventh double-digit outing of his NBA career. He also added three assists and three rebounds, before capping the season with eight points and four assists in the regular-season finale April 11. He finished the year with 18 starts in 38 NBA appearances, and averaged 18.6 min- utes, 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 as- sists per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor. He was a reliable rotation piece whenever called upon, playing solid defense and perhaps more importantly rarely turning the ball over — just 20 times in 706 minutes of game time. But just fighting and scrapping his way into the league, and earning some security there, was the bigger accomplishment. At NC State from 2009-12, Williams was the complimentary piece to players such as Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley, Courtney Fells, Tracy Smith, Richard How- ell, C.J. Leslie, Scott Wood and Lorenzo Brown. Now only Brown, with 107 through April 30, has more NBA appearances than Williams. The good news didn't stop with the im- probable NBA deal — two days after the contract was reported, Williams was named the 2018 NBA G League's Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, which is voted on by each team's Sportsmanship Award nom- inee to honor "the player who best repre- sents the ideals of character and conduct on and off the court." However, he admits the bigger prize is the multi-year deal despite it being, accord- ing to The Los Angeles Times, "not fully guaranteed, but he will receive some com- pensation for the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons." "I actually cried for about an hour be- cause you think about all the things that you've done to get to this point and all the times I was mad at my dad having me in the gym until 10 o'clock at night and I wanted to be home playing video games," Williams told the newspaper. "Him yelling at me for doing things on the court that he didn't want me to do. "Just everything just kind of all culmi- nated. I'm just so happy that they were here, and they were the first people I saw when I found out." NBA Player Updates Through April 30 • Lorenzo Brown (Played at NC State from 2011‑13), G, Toronto Raptors: Signed a two-way contract over the summer and spent most of the regular season with the Toronto Raptors' G League affiliate, Raptors 905 … Started all 32 contests he played in and averaged 33.2 minutes, 18.8 points, 8.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game … His team went 25-7 with him in the lineup … After being named the G League MVP by a vote of the league's 26 head coaches and general managers, had his deal converted to a full NBA contract … Ap - peared in 14 regular-season NBA games and averaged 9.9 minutes, 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 41.2 percent from the floor … That was his highest number of NBA games played since 2014 (29) … Has also appeared in a pair of playoff games for the Raptors, who beat the Wizards 4-2 in the first round, and averaged 9.5 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 blocks per contest … The Raptors and Cavaliers began the Eastern Conference Semifinals May 1. • Dennis Smith Jr. (2017), G, Dallas Mavericks: Started all 69 games he appeared in as a rookie for the 24-58 Mavericks … Averaged 29.7 minutes, 15.2 points, 5.2 as - sists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steal per contest … Boasted six double-doubles and one triple-double during the season … Shot 39.5 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from three-point land. • T.J. Warren, F, Phoenix Suns (2013‑14): Enjoyed the best numbers of his four professional seasons, although he missed the final 11 contests due to a knee injury … Started all 65 games he played in and averaged career highs with 33.0 minutes, 19.6 points and 1.3 assists per game for the 21-61 Suns … Also tied a career high with 5.1 rebounds per contest … Shot 49.8 percent from the floor, but just 22.2 percent from three-point land … Posted six double-doubles, which also set a new single- season career best. • C.J. Williams, G, Los Angeles Clippers (2009‑12): In 38 games played and 18 starts for the 42-40 Clippers, averaged 18.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals per game … In 16 contests with the team's G League affiliate, he posted clips of 29.5 minutes, 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. MLB Player Updates Through April 30 • Carlos Rodon (Played at NC State 2012‑14), LHP, Chicago White Sox: Was officially placed on the 60-day disabled list April 12, but he did not make any appear- ances before that … Is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder from last September. • Trea Turner (2012‑14), SS, Washington Nationals: Started slow, but is heating up … Through 29 games, he was hitting .284 for the 13-16 Nationals … He has scored 14 runs, hit six doubles, one triple and a home run with seven RBI, and was a perfect 12 of 12 on stolen bases … Ranked second in the league for stolen bases … Has also shown more patience at the plate, earning 18 walks to boast an on-base percentage of .381 … According to MLB.com April 19, he was tied for third in the league for "sprint speed," a statistic they began tracking last year that averages the number of feet a runner covers per second — the league average for the full season last year was 27 feet per second; he has been clocked at 29.9 this year, just behind the 30.5 of leader Byron Buxton of the Twins. ■ Heading into May, Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was hitting .284 with 14 runs scored, one home run, seven RBI and 12 stolen bases. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP