Rob Williams (basketball)

Robert Aaron Williams (May 5, 1961 – March 10, 2014), was an American professional basketball player who was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the first round (19th pick overall) of the 1982 NBA draft.

For other basketball people with similar names, see Robert Williams § Basketball.
Rob Williams
Personal information
Born(1961-05-05)May 5, 1961
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2014(2014-03-10) (aged 52)
Katy, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolMilby (Houston, Texas)
CollegeHouston (1979–1982)
NBA draft1982: 1st round, 19th overall pick
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
PositionPoint guard
Number21
Career history
1982–1984Denver Nuggets
1984–1985Louisville Catbirds
1984–1985Lancaster Lightning
1985Long Island Knights
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

A 6-foot-2 point guard from the University of Houston, Williams played in two National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons for the Nuggets. When Williams reported to Denver's training camp as a rookie, he was badly out of shape, prompting Nuggets coach Doug Moe to describe Williams as "a fat little hog".[1]

Williams' collegiate career included a trip to the 1982 NCAA Final Four, where his Houston Cougars, better known as Phi Slama Jama, fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the National Semifinals.

In 1982, Rob Williams shot a tournament worst 0-8 from the floor. In this game, he was primarily guarded by Jimmy Black.

A former star at Milby High School in Houston, Williams was an electrifying player for the University of Houston, averaging 16 points per game as a freshman, 25 per game as a sophomore, and 21 points per game for the 1982 Final Four team. Williams was an All American and perennial All Southwest Conference performer. His collegiate teammates included Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Michael Young, Benny Anders and Larry Micheaux among others.

In his NBA career, Williams played in 153 games and scored a total of 1,319 points. Following his brief NBA career, he played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association, Italy, Australia, Spain, and the Philippines.

In 1986, Williams strutted his wares as an import for Tanduay Rhum in the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) Reinforced Conference that year, where teams were allowed to suit up two imports no taller than 6 ft 3 in. Along with partner Andre McKoy and local superstars Ramon Fernandez, Freddie Hubalde and Willie Generalao, among others, the flamboyant and sweet-shooting Williams led Tanduay to its first championship in franchise history.

In a May 2005 Houston Chronicle story, Williams admitted using drugs while he played.[2] He suffered a stroke in January 1998 that left him blind in his left eye and partially paralyzed along the left side of his body.

On March 10, 2014, Rob Williams died of congestive heart failure at age 52.[3]

Since 2005, Williams and his wife had operated a care facility for mentally-challenged adults in Katy, Texas.

References
  1. "Big contracts don't keep N.Y. from cleaning house". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 31, 1982. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  2. Murphy, Michael (May 29, 2005). "Former Milby, UH star has his life back on track". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2017 – via chron.com.
  3. Duarte, Joseph (March 10, 2014). "Former UH basketball standout Rob Williams dies at 52". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2017 – via chron.com.
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