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Earl Williams (basketball player)

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Earl Williams
Personal information
Born (1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 (age 73)
Levittown, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican / Israeli
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolWoodrow Wilson
(Levittown, Pennsylvania)
CollegeWinston-Salem State (1970–1974)
NBA draft1974: 3rd round, 49th overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career1974–1994
PositionCenter
Number14
Career history
1974–1975Phoenix Suns
1975–1976Detroit Pistons
1976New York Nets
1977–1978Alvik BK
1978–1979Boston Celtics
1979–1983Maccabi Tel Aviv
1983–1984Fortitudo Bologna
1984–1985Pallacanestro Brindisi
1988–1989Hapoel Holon
1989–1990Maccabi Ramat Gan
1990–1991Hapoel Holon
1992Maccabi Nazareth
1993–1994Bnei Herzliya
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Earl Lee[1] "the Twirl" Williams (born March 24, 1951) is an American-Israeli former professional basketball player[2] who in 1990 and 1991 was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.

Early life and education

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Williams played high school basketball while attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania. In 2023, he was inducted into the Bristol Township School District Athletic Hall Of Fame.[3] He played college basketball at Winston-Salem State University, with the Winston-Salem State Rams.[2]

Professional career

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United States

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In the 1974 NBA draft, Williams was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 3rd round, with the 13th pick (49th overall).[2] He made his NBA debut on October 17, 1974, with Phoenix. During the next four years, he played for other NBA teams as well: the Detroit Pistons, the New York Nets, and the Boston Celtics.[2] On September 30, 1975, he was traded by the Suns to the Detroit Pistons, for a 1976 2nd round draft pick (Earl Tatum).

Sweden

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In the 1977–78 season, Williams played for the Swedish League team Alvik. Alvik came in 2nd in the league that year.[4]

Israel

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Williams later played professionally in the Israeli League. He starred for a portion of the time with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Holon,[5][6] and he also played with Maccabi Ramat Gan.[7] In 1990, at age 39, he was the oldest player in the Israeli League.[8] In 1990 and 1991, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.

Italy

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Williams played two seasons for Italian teams as well: Fortitudo Bologna in 1984–1985, and Libertas Brindisi in 1988–1989.

Personal life

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In 1982, Williams converted to Judaism.[9] Williams also became a naturalized Israeli citizen, becoming a dual US-Israeli citizen.[10][11]

After ending his active player career at the age of 43, Williams worked as an educator[12] and basketball coach in New Jersey.[13]

He is married to Merav, who is originally from Israel. They have two children.

References

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  1. ^ "Earl Lee Williams". FIBA Europe. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Earl Williams NBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  3. ^ "Bristol Twp. School District To Welcome New Inductees To Athletic Hall Of Fame". LevittownNow.com. September 21, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "1970-80 statistics". Alvik Basket. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Israeli Basketball Team Plays Despite Cloud of War". St. Paul Pioneer Press. February 22, 1991. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv wins Euro championship". Israel21c.org. May 2, 2004. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "Earl Williams". Israel Basketball Super League. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Leibowitz, Steve (September 25, 1990). "Galil Stop "Upstart" Ramat Hasharon". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  9. ^ Weisbord, Robert G.; Kazarian, Richard (1985). Israel in the Black American perspective. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313240164. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  10. ^ Ben-David, Calev (March 7, 1991). "A whole new ball game". The Jerusalem Report. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  11. ^ Gordin, Joel (January 30, 1991). "Israeli Basketball In Dire Straits". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  12. ^ Kabilio, Sharon (April 20, 2013). "ארל וויליאמס: במכבי אין כימיה ואמון אחד בשני". One. Retrieved April 23, 2022. ארל, שהיה זכור בעיקר כשחקן כדורסל רעשני אך באותה מידה גם עצום ביכולותיו, הפך במרוצות השנים למורה בבתי ספר בארצות הברית, מה שהוא מכתיר כשינוי הגדול בחייו, כתהליך שמיתן אותו והפך אותו לבחור הרגוע שהוא היום.
  13. ^ "What the Hell Happened to...Earl Williams?". June 14, 2013.
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