Williams returns to Europe with AEK Athens

AEK Athens announced on Monday the signing of Derrick Williams, completing a move that brings the player back to the European scene after several years away from the continental spotlight. The American power forward has agreed to a deal that includes an initial season plus an option for another, and he is already in Greek territory to start his new chapter.

Williams' return to European basketball concludes a journey that had kept him away from the EuroLeague. His last appearance in the competition dates back to the 2022-23 season when he was playing for Panathinaikos. Since then, the player had continued his career in alternative circuits, with stops in Puerto Rico and the South Korean league, where he aimed to maintain his competitive level away from the continental basketball limelight.

A familiar name in the Spanish ACB

For Spanish fans, Derrick Williams is a familiar face on the court. The power forward wore the Valencia Basket jersey between 2020 and 2021, a period marked by physical issues. A calf muscle tear in his left leg practically halted him upon arrival, affecting his performance and limiting his participation. That experience in the ACB ended with the termination of his contract, preventing the player from fully showcasing his potential in the Spanish league.

Despite that challenging episode in Valencia, Williams had demonstrated both before and after his ability in elite European basketball. His journey on the continent includes stints with prominent clubs that allowed him to build a solid reputation as a versatile power forward and a reliable scorer in crucial moments.

A notable European career

Prior to his time in Valencia, Williams made his European debut with Bayern Munich, where he achieved success by winning the German championship in 2019. That title reflected his contribution to a competitive team, solidifying him as a dependable option in Europe.

His most outstanding period in the EuroLeague came with Fenerbahce, where he averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 rebounds, positioning himself as one of the four most productive scorers in the competition during his stay. That season showcased his ability to compete at the highest European level and his offensive value in ambitious teams.

Subsequently, Williams played for Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos, a club with which he earned recognition as an All-Star in the Greek league. In total, he has accumulated 160 EuroLeague games with averages of 11 points and 3.6 rebounds in slightly over twenty-five minutes of playing time, figures that affirm his consistency in continental basketball.

The label of unfulfilled promise in the NBA

Williams' career began under considerable pressure. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected him as the number 2 pick in the 2011 draft, a position that placed him among the great talents of his generation. Kyrie Irving was the only one chosen before him, highlighting the confidence vested in the power forward after his tenure at the University of Arizona.

During his collegiate years, Williams displayed promising statistics, averaging 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in his sophomore year, justifying the high expectations surrounding his name. However, the NBA reality turned out to be very different from what was anticipated.

His best season in the American league came in 2012-13 with Minnesota, where he averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds in 78 games. That figure, though respectable, fell short of the performance expected from a second overall draft pick. Subsequently, Williams went through a series of stints with different teams without managing to firmly establish himself.

Sacramento, New York, Miami, and Cleveland were his main destinations in the NBA, along with a brief spell with the Lakers that left little impact. With the Cavaliers, Williams even reached the 2017 Finals, yet his participation was marginal, featuring in only eight games en route to the showdown against Golden State, which ended in defeat.

His final NBA stats reflect a career that did not meet its initial goals: 428 games played, of which only 112 as a starter, averaging 8.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 20.7 minutes of play. His field goal percentage stood at 43.4%, showcasing his offensive inconsistency at the highest American level.

A return with a chance for redemption

Williams' arrival at AEK Athens signifies an opportunity for the player to reclaim the spotlight in European basketball, where he has shown better credentials than in the NBA. His 1+1 contract allows him to settle in Greece with flexibility, while the Greek club acquires an experienced power forward with a history in highly competitive continental competitions.

In his thirties, Williams seeks to close a chapter that kept him away from the forefront for several years. His return to AEK Athens marks the beginning of a new phase in which he will have the chance to compete once again in the EuroLeague, the platform where he has proven to be most effective and where his experience can be valuable for an ambitious project.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Williams regresa a Europa con el AEK Atenas