L. D. Williams
Larry Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 8, 1988 |
| Occupation(s) | Basketball player, basketball coach |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Professional basketball career; assistant coach for Long Island Nets |
Larry Demetrius Williams (born May 8, 1988) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. He competed at the collegiate level for Wake Forest University and holds the distinction of being the sole Demon Deacon to receive ACC All-Defensive team recognition multiple times. Measuring 6'4" in height, he played both as a shooting guard and small forward. Presently, he serves as an assistant coach with the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League.
High school career
Williams began his high school tenure at Forbush High School in East Bend, North Carolina, participating in football and track during his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Montverde Academy located in Montverde, Florida. Under the guidance of coach Kevin Sutton, he averaged 17.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game during his senior year (2005–06). His performance earned him second-team all-state recognition, selection to the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Central Florida second team, and the title of Lake County Player of the Year.
College career
During his freshman year at Wake Forest in 2006–07, Williams started every one of the 31 games, ranking just behind Josh Howard and Tim Duncan for the most starts by a freshman. He posted averages of 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while placing second on the squad in assists (41) and steals (34).
In his sophomore campaign as team captain, Williams participated in 26 games with 25 starts, missing four contests due to a fractured right hand. He averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per outing, positioning third and fourth on the team in those categories respectively.
Williams retained the captaincy in his junior season, starting all 31 games. He earned a spot on the ACC All-Defensive team—the first Wake Forest player to do so since Josh Howard in 2002–03—and was honored with the team’s Best Defensive Player award for a second time. His averages included 8.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while ranking fourth in steals (28) and fifth in assists (34) on the roster.
In his senior year (2009–10), Williams started every game (31 total) and again secured a place on the ACC All-Defensive team after finishing 20th in rebounding within the conference. He averaged 8.7 points alongside 5.6 rebounds per game, concluding his collegiate career with a total of 1,005 points and recognition as one of Wake Forest’s premier defenders. Additionally, he achieved fourth place in the 2010 College Slam Dunk Contest.
Springfield Armor
After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, Williams was picked by the Springfield Armor during the second round of the 2010 NBA Development League Draft. He made his professional debut on November 19, 2010, against the Erie BayHawks, recording 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. On January 2, 2011, he reached a season-best scoring output with 21 points versus the BayHawks. Over 23 games, he posted averages of 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest before departing Springfield on February 7 to pursue a professional opportunity in the Philippines.
Alaska Aces
Williams signed with the Alaska Aces of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) on February 10, 2011. On March 28 of that year, he was fined ₱20,000 and suspended for one game following an incident where he struck Mark Cardona with a swinging elbow; league commissioner Chito Salud underscored that this disciplinary action was warranted regardless of intent.
Return to Springfield
On October 26, 2011, Williams rejoined the Springfield Armor for the 2011–12 campaign. In his first appearance back on November 25, he contributed 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and made 2 steals in a victory against the Maine Red Claws. He achieved his initial career double-double on December 15 versus the Erie BayHawks, posting a personal best of 33 points along with 10 rebounds in a 117–123 defeat.
JL Bourg-en-Bresse
Following participation in four games with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2012 NBA Summer League, Williams signed with French club JL Bourg-en-Bresse for the 2012–13 LNB Pro B season. He made his debut on September 29, tallying 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists against SOMB Boulogne-sur-Mer. On November 9, he delivered a season-best performance with 21 points in a victory over Lille Métropole Basket Clubs. Williams captured the league’s slam dunk contest title on December 30 but was sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury.
Return to D-League
Williams returned to Springfield Armor on October 31, 2013, where he averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds across 30 games during the 2013–14 season.
On October 31, 2014, he signed with the newly formed Grand Rapids Drive. He posted a season-high of 18 points on November 26, leading his team to a commanding 127–99 win over the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Unfortunately, on February 27, 2015, Williams suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon that ended his season prematurely. Throughout the 2014–15 season, he averaged 11.5 points and collected 3.9 rebounds while playing approximately 29 minutes per game.
Williams was acquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on January 29, 2016. He made his debut on February 16, contributing two points and two rebounds in six minutes during a 105–97 triumph over Grand Rapids.
Torpan Pojat, Finland
In August of 2017, Williams signed with Torpan Pojat, a Finnish club competing in the country’s 1A division based in Helsinki.
KD Ilirija
Williams currently competes for KD Ilirija in Slovenia.
The Basketball Tournament
In the 2018 edition of The Basketball Tournament, Williams represented Team Wake The Nation. He led his squad by scoring 14 points and securing eight rebounds during their first-round defeat to Team Showtime.
Personal
Williams is the son of Larry and Leslie Williams and has one brother as well as one sister. He earned a communication degree from Wake Forest University. During his high school years, he was active in choir and held the position of president for Logos, a Bible study group.