Amari Williams

Bio

Amari Williams is a 7-foot center drafted 46th overall by the Orlando Magic in 2025 and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics — one of a record four British players on opening-night NBA rosters that season. Known for his passing instincts out of the post, unusual for a center his size, he's carved out a real NBA role via a two-way contract, re-signed for 2026-27. In August 2026 he earned his first senior call-up to the Great Britain men's national team.

Beginner Story

Williams grew up in Nottingham — not Kent, a persistent mix-up in circulation — attending Trinity Catholic High School before Myerscough College's basketball academy in Preston. His college career took two very different stops: four seasons at Drexel, where he became the first player in conference history to win Defensive Player of the Year three years running, then a graduate transfer season at Kentucky. Going in the second round rather than the lottery meant a full G League season with the Maine Celtics before he earned real NBA minutes — a reminder that for British players especially, the second-round-or-undrafted-then-G-League route is currently far more common than a lottery slot, and the standard it demands is exactly the same.

Videos & Interviews

What People Are Saying

• NBA opening night rosters feature record four UK players — Hoopsfix
• CelticsBlog exit interview: Amari Williams — CelticsBlog