POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
Watkins Williams
Eurobaske.com had a chance to chat with Watkins Williams (194-G/F-87, college: Siskiyous JC) of Ittihad n (Saudi ) after quarterfinal game of the 38th Gulf Club Championship.
William, your team lost to Al Manama from Bahrain and you're out of the GCC. What happened? What didn't go right in the game?
NOTHING AT ALL DIDN'T GO RIGHT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE LUCK ON OUR SIDE AN WE PICKED UP SOME CHEMISTRY LITTLE TO LATE , THE GUYS PLAYED GREAT ,I DO FEEL LIKE I COULD OF DONE MORE SCORING BUT I LIKE TO LEAD AND SCORE AN KEEP MY TEAMMATES INVOLVE IN THE GAME. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE A BLESSING TO PLAY WITH TOP TEAM FROM SAUDI.
You were the best scorer of that game with 19 points. During the whole turnament we could see that you were one of ITTHIAD leaders. How did you feel with that?
I ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER I LIKE THAT ROLE. I LIKE BEING THE ONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THINGS. GOD BLESSED ME WITH AMAZING TALENT AND I WORK HARD DURING THE SEASON AND OFFSEASON SO WHY NOT TAKE ON THAT ROLE WITH ANY TEAM I PLAY WITH. I WANT TO BE THE LEADER OF THE PACK . FIRST ONE IN GYM LAST ONE TO LEAVE .
It is your first saeson in Middle East basketball. Last season you spent in Gerany, have started this season in Ireland, then moved to KAC (Morocco), played in Lebanon (Byblos) and finall landed at Al Rayyan. Seems lika a long yourney.
THE BEST THINGS COMES TO THOSE WHO WORK HARD AND NEVER GIVE UP. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BEST STORIES. ALL THE GREATS FROM KD, LEBRON KOBE, AND MJ THEY ALL HAVE STORIES TO TELL. PLAYING IN LEBANON FOR BYBLOS REALLY SHOWED ME I CAN PLAY AT HIGHEST LEVEL AND GRIND WITH SOME OF THE TOP PLAYERS AND EX NBA GUYS BUT WORKING HARD THAT'S SOMETHING I FEEL I WAS BORN WITH. I ALWAYS BEEN A GYM RAT 6 to 8 hrs in gym during the off-season weights pool cardio skill work etc , MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME WHAT HARD WORK CAN CAN DO FOR YOU AND HOW BASKETBALL CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD .
In Lebanon and Qatar you played with giant Marko Dujkovic. Do you feel comfortable having him on the court? You both dominated ITTHIAD game.
MARKO IS JUST THAT A GAINT, LOL. PLAYING WITH HIM MAKES GAME COME EASY. HE KNOWS THE GAME FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.
How do you find living in Mid-East different comparing to the States. What's different between playing basketball in the U.S. and those countries.
MIDDLE-EAST.... I LOVE IT HERE. PEOPLE ARE AMAZING. LEAGUES ARE GREAT. LIFE IS GREAT. PERIOD OVER HERE I LOVE IT. PLAYING HOME IS ALWAYS GOOD BECAUSE YOU HAVE FAMILY HOME BUT MIDDLE-EAST MOST GAMES ARE TELEVISED SO FAMILY ALWAYS ABLE TO WATCH WHICH IS A BLESSING FOR. MY MOM AND FAMILY AND SPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER TO SEE ME WORK
The season is finished. What now? What's your plans for the summer and next season?
MY NEXT STOP IS TURKEY. AFTER THAT I WILL GO BACK HOME TO TAMPA, FLORIDA AND GET BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND IN THE LAB FOR MY SUMMER WORKOUTS WITH MY NBA FRIENDS AND OTHER BROTHERS WHO ARE OVERSEAS AS WEL.L SUMMERS ARE THE BEST IT'S WERE I TRANSFORM AND GET BETTER DAILY. VERY POSSIBLE I WILL GET A CHANCE AT LAS VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE WHICH WOULD BE HUGE FOR MY CAREER. NEXT SEASON AS OF RIGHT NOW I WILL BE IN LEBANON OR EYGYT.
One last thing ... for those who do not know your name. Can you please tell us about you? Why basketball? How it all started? What kind of basketball player are you.
WATKINS WILLIAMS, BASKETBALL RUNS IN MY BLOOD FROM WATCHING MY OLDER BROTHERS EDDIE AND DARIUS PLAY. GROWING UP IN QUEENS, NEW YORK WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. ONCE I HIT THE AGE TO ATTEND CAMPS MY MOM WHICH IS A BLESSING TO HAVE THE MOM I HAVE SHE WOULD SEND ME TO FIVE STAR BASKETBALL CAMP EVERY SUMMER FOR TWO WEEKS. But basketball really took off in Tampa, is were it really hit me I can do something with ball and being invited to top 100 camps etc. It really helped my ego and drive and passion to never give up an stick to the plan. And go keep working all the stuff I have been thru to get to were I am have made me into the player I am today. Yes, I'm a scorer but I'm also get it done on both ends an push my teammates to obtain the same work ethic I have. I love this game and what it has done for me and I just wanna keep working hard and give 110percent right back to it . THIS IS ALL GODS PLAN.
Thanks and talk to you soon!
