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LeBron James and Zeljko Obradovic's duo could only spark the European basketball fans' imagination. Panathinaikos Athens forward Derrick Williams had the privilege to work with both on both sides of the Atlantic. Before getting coached by a nine-time EuroLeague champion Obradovic in Fenerbahce (2019-2020), he represented the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second part of the 2016-17 season when LeBron led the group to the NBA finals. "We would get a bunch of the IQ. A lot of IQ about the game. They would make the game so much easier for everybody else. That's the main thing I've got from both guys," Williams tried to imagine Zeljko's and LeBron's duo in the NBA. "Obradovic is so detailed about the game. Offense, and defense, we were always constantly studying the game and film. The film does a lot. Regardless it's good or bad, I think you can always learn from the film," Williams said in an interview with BasketNews.
Regarding LeBron, Williams shared a story that speaks a lot about his ability to read the game. "It's been times when I've been on the court with him, and the other team is calling plays. And he saw his guard was in the wrong position. He knows exactly where he is supposed to be. And he says, 'Hey man, you're supposed to be on the other side. You're not on the right play right now'," Williams laughed. "The level of IQ that he has, knowing other teams' plays, while they are calling plays, it's just been a step or two ahead like in chess," he continued. "That's the main thing I've learned from these two guys. It's always been able to be a step ahead."
Derrick Williams on NBA: Nobody is playing defense
Derrick Williams is well aware of both European and American basketball styles. He went on Twitter and expressed his thoughts on NBA basketball, which lacks defensive efforts, as stated by the player. "I mean just nobody is playing defense... everything is a switch even with bigs, who can't switch. Every game has an All-Star match score, so I mean 145-138 multiple times a night. It is funny to me when they say only certain people don't play defense," Williams wrote on social media.
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"That's what they want. People who can't shoot... to shoot 3s. George Karl told me: dunks or threes... if you shoot a midrange, I'll take you out. You can't argue with someone, who is playing computer percentages, eliminating skill, IQ, timing, rhythm, all of which count within actual gameplay," Williams recalled his time in the strongest league.
Maccabi Tel Aviv announced the signing of Derrick Williams.
Done deal between Valencia and Derrick Williams. After Bayern and Fenerbahce, former Nba will play in Spain.
Derrick Williams said he turned down offers to play in the now-suspended NBA this season, wanting to set goals and take advantage of the opportunity in Europe before coming back.
“I told myself after my first year in Europe that if I’m going to stay, I’m going to play for the team with the best fans and coach out here,” Williams said. “If I was going to go back to the NBA, that was going to be my best bet. I just wanted to make sure I was 100% ready to capitalize on the opportunities I was going to get. I’m only 28, and I feel I’m getting better and more consistent as every year goes. I love it out here. It’s fun, can’t complain, but who knows. Maybe next year, some NBA things might happen.”
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Former Arizona Wildcats standout Derrick Williams wants you to know why he’s not on an NBA roster this season. An opportunity to join Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce this summer was too much to pass up. “I turned down NBA offers to come to [Fenerbahce],” Williams tweeted Monday. “I love it so far. There will be better days in 2020.”
After Team USA’s elimination in the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup, Fenerbahce forward and former No. 2 draft pick Derrick Williams told Eurohoops that it “makes sense” for them to consider EuroLeague players. What do you think about that? Shane Larkin: “I think that it’s something that they should think about. There’s a lot of players in Europe in general, not just Americans, who can play in the NBA. You know, you go and look at the 450 NBA players. There’s a lot of guys in the NBA who wouldn’t be able to come to Europe and even play. I mean, they would get some minutes, but they wouldn’t be as successful as they think they would be. It’s definitely a game that you have to be able to translate to. And I think that we have some Americans over here who do well pretty much every year. And knowing the game of basketball in Europe would definitely help in those situations.
Derrick Williams was FC Bayern Munich’s star last year, Greg Monroe is set to assume the same role during the 2019-20 season. The German side confirmed the addition of the 28-year-old American forward on Thursday.
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