Amari Williams

Amari Williams
Williams with Kentucky in 2024
No. 77 – Boston Celtics
PositionCenter / power forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2002-01-28) 28 January 2002
Nottingham, England
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolMyerscough College
(Preston, Lancashire)
College
NBA draft2025: 2nd round, 46th overall pick
Drafted byOrlando Magic
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–presentBoston Celtics
2025–present→Maine Celtics
Career highlights
  • 3× CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2022–2024)
  • 2× First-team All-CAA (2023, 2024)
  • Third-team All-CAA (2022)
  • 3× CAA All-Defensive Team (2022–2024)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 

Amari Williams (born 28 January 2002) is a British professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Drexel Dragons and the Kentucky Wildcats. Williams was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, but was immediately traded to the Celtics.

Early life

Williams grew up in Nottingham, England and initially attended Trinity School, Nottingham.[1] He transferred to Myerscough College when he was 16 years old.[2] Williams primarily played football when growing up.[3]

College career

Williams began his college career with the Drexel Dragons. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year and third-team all-conference as a sophomore. Williams repeated as CAA Defensive Player of the Year and was named first-team all-conference while averaging 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.[4] As a senior, Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for a third straight season.[5] After the end of the season, Williams decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020–2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and entered the NCAA transfer portal.[6]

Williams transferred to Kentucky.[7] He averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.[8]

Professional career

Boston / Maine Celtics (2025–present)

Williams was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft with the 46th pick by the Orlando Magic and traded to the Boston Celtics.[8] On August 15, 2025, Boston Celtics announced that they had signed Williams to two-way contract.[9]

National team career

Williams has represented Great Britain in international competitions at the under-16, under-18, and under-20 levels.[10]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Drexel 15 0 4.0 .429 .000 .571 1.0 .6 .1 .3 1.1
2021–22 Drexel 28 17 20.6 .521 .500 .632 7.3 1.1 .6 2.0 9.5
2022–23 Drexel 30 30 27.4 .523 .267 .606 8.8 2.3 1.4 2.2 13.7
2023–24 Drexel 32 32 22.9 .517 .333 .655 7.8 1.9 .8 1.8 12.2
2024–25 Kentucky 36 36 22.8 .561 .250 .623 8.5 3.2 .6 1.2 10.9
Career 141 115 21.4 .529 .300 .628 7.4 2.0 .8 1.6 10.4

References

  1. ^ Malcolm, Rod (7 August 2018). "Meet the six foot eight 16-year-old who's a rising star in the basketball world". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ Simpson, Ariel (14 January 2022). "Drexel basketball duo's bond stretches from across the pond". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  3. ^ Story, Mark (17 October 2024). "Why a 7-foot Englishman could be the key to Mark Pope's first Kentucky men's basketball season". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  4. ^ Leuzzi, John (21 April 2024). "Who is Amari Williams? Mark Pope, Kentucky basketball land Drexel star F, per reports". Courier Journal. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Drexel's Amari Williams earns third CAA Defensive Player Award". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  6. ^ Gabriel, Kerith (12 March 2024). "Drexel star forward Amari Williams to see what the NBA draft and NCAA transfer portal might offer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  7. ^ Borzello, Jeff (21 April 2024). "Agent: Drexel transfer Amari Williams commits to Kentucky". ESPN.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b Geagan, Matt (26 June 2025). "Celtics draft Amari Williams in second round of NBA Draft". CBS Sports. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Celtics Sign Amari Williams to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "Williams Selected to Represent Great Britain in World Cup Qualifiers". DrexelDragons.com. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
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