Shelden Williams
Encyclopedia
Shelden DeMar Williams (born October 21, 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
) is an American
professional basketball
player who last played for the New York Knicks
. He played college basketball at Duke University
, where his #23 jersey was retired on January 28, 2007.
His size (6'9", 250 lbs), aggressive style of play, and shot-blocking
ability earned him the nickname "The Landlord." During high school, Williams was a member of the National Honor Society
and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
. He earned the 2005 and 2006 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
Awards while at Duke, becoming only the fifth player in history to earn the award two consecutive years. He holds Duke's career blocks record, single-season blocks record, and career rebounding record, while he is 17th in career blocks on the NCAA charts. He is the third player in ACC
history to have 1,500 points
, 1,000 rebounds
and 350 blocks (joining Tim Duncan
and Ralph Sampson
). His 1,217 rebounds and 1,859 career points rank him seventh in ACC history and sixteenth in Duke history, respectively. Williams became only the third Duke basketball player to record a triple-double when Duke defeated Maryland on January 11, 2006, recording 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.
from 2002–2006. He majored in Sociology
with a markets and management studies certificate.
. On February 16, 2008, Williams was involved in a multi-player trade to the Sacramento Kings
for Mike Bibby
.
On February 19, 2009, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves
along with Bobby Brown
for Rashad McCants
and Calvin Booth
.
On August 7, 2009, he signed a one year contract with the Boston Celtics
.
On July 14, 2010, he signed a one year contract with the Denver Nuggets
.
On February 22, 2011, Williams was traded to the New York Knicks
in a three-way blockbuster deal also involving Minnesota Timberwolves
that brought Carmelo Anthony
to New York.
were accused of raping a 19-year old girl in Columbus, while playing in a high school basketball tournament. They were suspended from the team during the investigation. The players denied the allegations and no charges were filed.
On November 13, 2008, Williams married former University of Tennessee
Lady Vols
and current Los Angeles Sparks
basketball star Candace Parker
. They have a daughter.
Williams is the brother-in-law to Cavs
shooting guard Anthony Parker
. On December 15, 2007, Williams was carjacked
at gunpoint before a game against the Charlotte Bobcats
. Two suspects were arrested later that day at Arbor Place Mall
in Douglas County, Georgia
. According to an officer at the Douglasville
Police Department, the suspects were in Williams' car and were attempting a robbery.
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 81 || 31 || 18.7 || .455 || .500 || .764 || 5.4 || .5 || .6 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 36 || 0 || 11.5 || .370 || .000 || .686 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 3.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 28 || 0 || 12.9 || .491 || .000 || .667 || 3.5 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 5.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 30 || 0 || 10.2 || .449 || .000 || .762 || 2.6 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 15 || 0 || 13.8 || .441 || .000 || .667 || 5.0 || .3 || .7 || .5 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Boston
| 54 || 0 || 11.1 || .521 || .000 || .765 || 2.7 || .4 || .2 || .4 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 244 || 31 || 13.9 || .457 || .222 || .737 || 3.8 || .4 || .4 || .4 || 4.5
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Boston
| 8 || 0 || 7.1 || .444 || .000 || .833 || 1.6 || .0 || .1 || .0 || 1.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 8 || 0 || 7.1 || .444 || .000 || .833 || 1.6 || .0 || .1 || .0 || 1.6
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He played college basketball at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, where his #23 jersey was retired on January 28, 2007.
His size (6'9", 250 lbs), aggressive style of play, and shot-blocking
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
ability earned him the nickname "The Landlord." During high school, Williams was a member of the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
. He earned the 2005 and 2006 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
NABC Defensive Player of the Year
The NABC Defensive Player of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to recognize the top defensive player in United States college basketball...
Awards while at Duke, becoming only the fifth player in history to earn the award two consecutive years. He holds Duke's career blocks record, single-season blocks record, and career rebounding record, while he is 17th in career blocks on the NCAA charts. He is the third player in ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
history to have 1,500 points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
, 1,000 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and 350 blocks (joining Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . The 6-foot 11-inch , 255-pound power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year...
and Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
). His 1,217 rebounds and 1,859 career points rank him seventh in ACC history and sixteenth in Duke history, respectively. Williams became only the third Duke basketball player to record a triple-double when Duke defeated Maryland on January 11, 2006, recording 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.
High school career
- 2002 EA Sports High School All-America selection
- Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year: 2001, 2002
- 2001 USA Today Oklahoma Player of the Year
- Oklahoma Player of the Year in 2001 by the Daily Oklahoman
- Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Year: 2000, 2001
- Ranked number 49 in the nation among all players by ESPN.com following his senior season (averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists as a senior)
- Rated the nation's fifth-best prep player by Future Stars and BlueChipHoops.com and sixth by College Basketball News entering the 2001–02 season
- The Sporting News listed Williams as the nation's sixth-best prep player entering 2001–02
- Rated the nation's number one forward by Basketball News and Prepstars
- Three-time all-state, all-district and all-city selection (1999–2001)
- 2001 Parade All-America
Collegiate career
Williams played for the Duke University men's basketball teamDuke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
from 2002–2006. He majored in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
with a markets and management studies certificate.
Records
As of graduating from Duke University, Williams held records for:- Duke all-time leader in blocked shots (422)
- Duke all-time leader in rebounds
- Duke single season blocked shots
Statistics
Third player in NCAA history to score 1500 points, grab 1000 rebounds, block 350 shots, and pick up 150 steals.Awards
- National Association of Basketball CoachesNational Association of Basketball CoachesThe National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
Defensive Player of the YearNABC Defensive Player of the YearThe NABC Defensive Player of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to recognize the top defensive player in United States college basketball...
: 2005, 2006 - Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
First Team All American: 2006 - John R. WoodenJohn R. Wooden AwardThe John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
First Team All American: 2006 - Senior CLASS All-Senior All American Team: 2006
- John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Finalist: 2006
- NBA Rookie of the Month: April 2007
Professional career
Williams was selected by the Hawks with the fifth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
. On February 16, 2008, Williams was involved in a multi-player trade to the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
for Mike Bibby
Mike Bibby
Michael "Mike" Bibby is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He is a 6'2" point guard, and he attended Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona and played collegiately at the University of Arizona. In...
.
On February 19, 2009, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
along with Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown (basketball)
Robert 'Bobby' Douglas Brown is an American professional basketball player.-Amateur career:...
for Rashad McCants
Rashad McCants
Rashad Dion McCants is an American professional basketball player.-High school career:...
and Calvin Booth
Calvin Booth
Calvin Lawrence Booth is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:...
.
On August 7, 2009, he signed a one year contract with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
.
On July 14, 2010, he signed a one year contract with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
.
On February 22, 2011, Williams was traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in a three-way blockbuster deal also involving Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
that brought Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
to New York.
Personal life
In 2002, Williams, along with teammates De'Angelo Alexander and Matt KempMatt Kemp
Matthew Ryan "Matt" Kemp is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Kemp was drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft and made his major league debut in 2006...
were accused of raping a 19-year old girl in Columbus, while playing in a high school basketball tournament. They were suspended from the team during the investigation. The players denied the allegations and no charges were filed.
On November 13, 2008, Williams married former University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
Lady Vols
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
and current Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
basketball star Candace Parker
Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker is an All-American basketball player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and is also the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She was drafted to the team from Tennessee in 2008...
. They have a daughter.
Williams is the brother-in-law to Cavs
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
shooting guard Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker
Anthony Michael Parker is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association . After graduating from Bradley University with a major in liberal arts, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft and played briefly in the NBA before...
. On December 15, 2007, Williams was carjacked
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
at gunpoint before a game against the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. Two suspects were arrested later that day at Arbor Place Mall
Arbor Place Mall
Arbor Place Mall, the only regional mall directly serving the growing western suburbs of Atlanta, is located in Douglasville, Georgia, in Douglas County. Opened in October 1999, the mall was originally to be anchored by Dillard's, Parisian, Sears, and Upton's...
in Douglas County, Georgia
Douglas County, Georgia
Douglas County, Georgia has been experiencing numerous natural disasters over the most recent decades. Being located in the South Eastern United States the county experiences strong storms and tornadoes often because of its location in Dixie Alley....
. According to an officer at the Douglasville
Douglasville, Georgia
The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 30,961...
Police Department, the suspects were in Williams' car and were attempting a robbery.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
| 81 || 31 || 18.7 || .455 || .500 || .764 || 5.4 || .5 || .6 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 36 || 0 || 11.5 || .370 || .000 || .686 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 3.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 28 || 0 || 12.9 || .491 || .000 || .667 || 3.5 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 5.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 30 || 0 || 10.2 || .449 || .000 || .762 || 2.6 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| 15 || 0 || 13.8 || .441 || .000 || .667 || 5.0 || .3 || .7 || .5 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 54 || 0 || 11.1 || .521 || .000 || .765 || 2.7 || .4 || .2 || .4 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 244 || 31 || 13.9 || .457 || .222 || .737 || 3.8 || .4 || .4 || .4 || 4.5
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 8 || 0 || 7.1 || .444 || .000 || .833 || 1.6 || .0 || .1 || .0 || 1.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 8 || 0 || 7.1 || .444 || .000 || .833 || 1.6 || .0 || .1 || .0 || 1.6