Close Menu
The Daily Hoosier
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 forward Trey Thompson
    • East 17th Street Ep. 22 — New IU basketball transfer forward Josh Harris joins
    • The early returns on IU football’s 2026 class are very positive
    • IU softball eliminated from NCAA Tournament
    • For 2026 IU football commit Jay Timmons, overcoming pressure became a necessity
    • IU baseball is the No. 6 seed in the 2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament
    • IU football recruiting: Hoosiers land 2026 4-star DL Gabe Hill
    • IU baseball notebook: Hoosiers qualify for Big Ten, Mercer and Taylor with notable achievements
    • Sign Up
    • About/Support
    • Jobs
    • Tickets
      • IUBB Tickets (Stubhub)
      • IUFB Tickets (Stubhub)
    • Shop
      • Official IU Store
      • IU Adidas Store
      • Amazon: Support TDH
      • IU Memorabilia
      • IU Press (Books)
      • The Daily Hoosier T-Shirt
    • Radio/Podcasts
      • East 17th Street
    • Pro IU
      • IUBB NBA
      • IUFB NFL
      • IUBASE MLB
    • Forum
      • Disqus Forum
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    The Daily HoosierThe Daily Hoosier
    Monday, May 19
    • IU Basketball
      • Latest IU Basketball News
      • Offseason roster activity tracker
      • 2025-26 IU Basketball Roster
      • DeVries’ new staff
      • Scholarship Chart
      • Future Schedules
      • IU Basketball 2024-25 Schedule
      • 2024-25 Big Ten Standings
      • 24-25 IU Basketball Stats
      • Rankings & Bracketology
      • IU Basketball Media Guide
    • IU Football
      • Latest IU Football News
      • Roster updates by position
      • 2025 scholarship tracker
      • Current roster
      • Curt Cignetti’s staff
      • Future opponents through 2032
      • IU Football 2024 Schedule
      • 2024 B1G Standings
      • 2024 IUFB Stats
      • IU Football 2024 Record Book
    • IU Recruiting
      • IU Basketball Recruiting News
      • IU Football Recruiting News
      • IUBB 2026-28 Prospects
      • Recruit Interviews
      • Recruit Highlights
      • IU Football Recruiting Commits
    • IU Women’s Basketball
      • IU Women’s Basketball News
      • 24-25 Schedule
      • Big Ten Standings
    • IU Men’s Soccer
      • 2024 Schedule
      • Indiana Men’s Soccer: Program History
    • More Hoosiers
      • Fan and Business NIL options
      • IU Baseball
        • Baseball Schedule
        • Statistics
        • Big Ten Standings
      • IU Swim & Dive
      • IU Olympic Results
    • Hoosier History
      • March Madness Classics
      • Basketball History
      • Football History
      • IUFB Best Seasons
      • IUFB All-Time Top 10 Players
    The Daily Hoosier

    Hoosiers in the NBA: Troy Williams Season in Review

    Mike SchumannBy Mike SchumannApril 21, 2018 IUBB NBA 1 Comment
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The 2017-18 NBA season has ended for five of the eight former Indiana Hoosiers that registered statistics in the league this year.  Today marks the fourth in a series of more in depth reviews of their respective seasons as we discuss former Hoosier high flyer Troy Williams.

    Troy Williams arrived in Bloomington from Hampton, Virginia for the 2013-14 season.  With a reputation as a great athlete that could attack the basket, Williams found a role immediately with the Hoosiers.  While erratic at times, especially early in his IU career, Williams improved each year and by his junior season he became a more reliable veteran.

    Among many memorable moments during his junior season, he had a second half outburst against Notre Dame that helped to turn around that season, and a 23 point effort against Maryland in a game that sealed the outright Big Ten title.  He also introduced himself to Purdue’s Isaac Haas.

    Photo credit – Indiana University

    Williams was originally signed by Memphis as an undrafted rookie free agent in October 2016.  Despite showing promise with the Grizzlies, he was released in the middle of the 2016-2017 season and then picked up by Houston.  He bounced between Houston and Rio Grande of the G-League the remainder of 2017.  He also won the 2017 D-League Dunk contest.

    WILLIAMS’ 2017-18 SEASON

    Williams saw very limited action with the Rockets during the 2017-18 season, and he struggled when opportunities arose.  He appeared in 19 games for Rio Grande, averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals over 29.1 minutes.

    In our feature on Williams’ fellow IU 2013 recruiting classmate Noah Vonleh, we highlighted how a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered.  In what at first seemed unfortunate, Williams was waived by Houston after appearing in only four games.  But only days later he was signed by the Knicks in a turn of events that proved to be fortuitous.

    The Knicks signed Williams to a 10-day contract in February and he played well off the bench.  He earned a second 10-day contract before the Knicks signed him to a deal through the end of the season with some partially guaranteed money into next year.

    He had a disappointing and painful early end to the season, as with only 5 games left, he suffered a fractured jaw.

    Here are Williams’ complete statistics for the 2017-18 season:

    Games played/started – 21/1
    Points – 6.3 (career high)
    Rebounds – 3.0 (career high)
    Assists – .8 (tied, career high)
    Blocks – .2
    Steals – 1.0 (career high)
    FG% – .468 (career high)
    3FG% – .289
    FT% – .667 (career high)

     

     

    Williams previously averaged 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds over 16.9 minutes in 34 games (16 starts) over two seasons with Memphis and Houston.  For New York, the 23-year-old averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 17 games, while playing 17.1 minutes per game.

    Williams scored a season high 18 points and added 5 rebounds on March 9 in Milwaukee:

    Former Knick head coach Jeff Hornacek had this to say about Williams when asked what he was adding to New York:

    “His activity, the playing hard, cutting to the basket, some of that stuff gets contagious. His ability to make some athletic plays that sometimes you don’t think — there was a play the other day, I think he actually scored on it. They took it out and threw a long pass. He got back, jumped up in the air and stole it. He has the ability to make plays other guys may not be able to do. He also showed if he gets a kick-out three, and he’s ready for it, he can make it.”

    That certainly sounds like the Troy Williams that Indiana fans got to know for 3 seasons.

    GETTING TO KNOW TROY WILLIAMS

    This is an entertaining video of fellow Knick Michael Beasley interviewing newcomer Williams on “The Walking Bucket Show”.  Troy manages to get an IU reference in.  It’s worth a watch:

    WHAT’S NEXT

    While nothing is guaranteed in the ultra-competitive NBA, Williams’ is likely comfortable that he has a spot on the New York roster going into next year.

    The biggest question facing him this offseason will be something that was a developmental need while with the Hoosiers — his three-point shooting.  Williams is shooting 29% for his NBA career from distance.  He shot 33% with New York.  While an improvement, that still won’t cut it at his position in a league that highly emphasizes the deep ball.  If he can develop that aspect of his game, while continuing to attack the rim and playing good defense, then Troy Williams might just be in the NBA for a long career.

    You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier

    Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier

    Supporting FREE coverage of IU Athletics operated by an Indiana based small business has never been easier.  Just do your shopping via this link to the Amazon home page or via the Amazon ad below.  Anything you purchase on Amazon via these links supports free, independent and comprehensive coverage of IU.

    Related

    indiana hoosiers Troy Williams
    Mike Schumann

    Keep Reading

    Former Hoosiers OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant to meet in Eastern Conference Finals

    Former IU basketball star Troy Williams joins 2025 Assembly Ball TBT squad

    Rick Carlisle praises Thomas Bryant as Pacers advance to Eastern Conference Finals

    Latest Hoosier News
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 forward Trey Thompson
    • East 17th Street Ep. 22 — New IU basketball transfer forward Josh Harris joins
    • The early returns on IU football’s 2026 class are very positive
    • IU softball eliminated from NCAA Tournament
    • For 2026 IU football commit Jay Timmons, overcoming pressure became a necessity
    • IU baseball is the No. 6 seed in the 2025 Big Ten Baseball Tournament
    • IU football recruiting: Hoosiers land 2026 4-star DL Gabe Hill
    Sign Up



    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    © 2025 The Daily Hoosier, LLC.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.