Sean Williams Comes Full Circle From Boston College To Celtics

WALTHAM - Once a rising star for the Boston College men's basketball team, Sean Williams has had a turbulent professional career, never truly finding a comfort zone with either of the two teams he has played for.

Williams was drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and played in a career-high 73 games that season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. Williams would play two more season with the Nets, but never played in more than 33 games or averaged over 2.6 points, and was released by the team in January of 2011.

During his stint with the Nets in 2009, Williams was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after an altercation with an attendant at a cell phone store in Colorado. Williams allegedly smashed the store's computer monitor and did not fly back to New Jersey with the team. He was later suspended two games.

Williams went on to play in Puerto Rico and China before retuning to the States to play in the NBA Development League. He joined the Texas Legends and played 49 games in the 2010-11 season and averaged 14.4 points, 2.9 blocks and 9.4 rebounds. Williams was selected to the D-League All-Star team that year and named to the All-NBA Development League Third Team.

After putting in his time overseas and in the D-League, Williams got another shot in the NBA when he signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks on December 21, 2011. After being assigned to the Legends for less than one week, Williams debuted with the Mavs on Dec. 26 against the Denver Nuggets, going 4-for-4 from both the field and the free throw line while recording a steal and a block in 11 minutes. Being his first NBA game since '09-'10 season, the tired Williams threw up on the bench following the game.

Williams played a total of eight games with the Mavericks this season, scoring 29 points and grabbing 13 rebounds before being waived on March 22. After nearly one month on the outside looking in, Williams finally got an opportunity he couldn't pass up. He signed with the Boston Celtics on April 20, bringing him back to his collegiate hometown.

"I guess you could say I've come full circle," said Williams, who said that his career has been a learning process. "Going back home, all the way back to Boston. I've learned a lot in those times. I hope I can take those experiences and they add to this environment and they can help everybody reach their goals."

Now, in his fourth year in the NBA, Williams has a chance to help a team win a championship.

"I have an opportunity to come out here and help these guys try to get their 18th ring," said a smiling Williams. "I'm just coming in, try to work hard and have everybody's back."

Williams, who was kicked off the Boston College basketball team following multiple suspensions during the 2006-2007 campaign, said that he hasn't paid much attention to his alma mater recently, focusing on his own career. Before being booted off the team in '06-'07, Williams was averaging 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Williams saw his first minutes with the Celtics during Friday's 97-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. In three minutes, Williams had one defensive rebound and did not score. Williams, who doesn't have a lot of time to impress head coach Doc Rivers before the playoffs (there's two games left), was the last one on the practice court Monday and has one goal.

Said Williams, "I'm just going to come in here, assimilate with the coaches and work hard and do whatever I can to help these guys [accomplish] their goals and win a championship."

For more Boston Celtics and Boston College coverage, visit CelticsBlog and BC Interruption.