Mark Williams: From Duke Standout to Phoenix Suns Center

Mark Oluwafemi Williams, born on December 16, 2001, is an American professional basketball player currently with the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Williams' journey to the NBA began in Norfolk, Virginia, and includes a decorated high school career, a impactful stint at Duke University, and a promising start with the Charlotte Hornets.

Early Life and High School Career

Born to Nigerian parents, Margaret and Dr. Alex Williams, Mark Williams' athletic journey started at Norfolk Academy, where he quickly established himself as a dominant force. His older sister, Elizabeth, played basketball at Duke from 2011 to 2015 and later for the Washington Mystics, setting a high bar for athletic achievement in the family.

Williams passed the 1,000-point threshold in February 2019. As a junior, he averaged 19.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game, helping the Bulldogs reach the VISAA state tournament. He earned recognition as a USA Today All-USA Virginia Boys Basketball second-team selection.

Prior to his senior year, Williams transferred to IMG Academy, a move designed to further hone his skills against top-tier competition. He was a four-star center in high school and a 2020 McDonald's All-American. He was also chosen to participate in the 2020 Jordan Brand Classic before the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019 Nike EYBL circuit, Williams showcased his talent, averaging 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 63.8% from the field.

College Career at Duke University

In 2019, Williams committed to Duke University, where he played for the Blue Devils during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Read also: Pope's NCAA Tournament Goals

Freshman Year (2020-2021)

As a freshman, Williams appeared in 23 games, starting in 15. He averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game.

Sophomore Year (2021-2022)

Williams took on a larger role during his sophomore campaign, averaging 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game while serving exclusively as a starter. On January 5, 2022, Williams scored 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-57 win against Georgia Tech. On February 26, 2022, he scored a career-high 28 points in a 97-72 win over Syracuse. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-ACC honors. His 110 blocked shots ranked fourth-most in a single season in Blue Devil history, and his 142 career blocks ranked seventh all-time in Duke history.

On April 18, 2022, Williams declared for the NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

NBA Career

Charlotte Hornets (2022-2025)

Williams was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In July 2022, he signed a two-year, $7.63 million contract with the Hornets.

Rookie Season (2022-2023)

Williams made 43 appearances (17 starts) in his rookie year, averaging 9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1 block in 19.3 minutes per game. The Hornets began the campaign with Mason Plumlee as their starting center, eventually moving on from him via a trade to the Clippers. From that point, Williams assumed the starting role most nights.

Read also: Virtual Tutoring for Literacy

Second Season (2023-2024)

In October 2023, the Hornets exercised his $4.09 million team option for the 2024-25 season. Williams increased his statistical output to 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.7 minutes per game. He recorded a career-high 27 points on Nov. 4, 2023, against Indiana and a career-high 24 rebounds (15 offensive) on Nov. Williams had another injury-riddled season in 2023-24 and was limited to just 17 appearances -- and zero after Dec. 8. He surpassed the 30-minute mark in just three of those 17 contests.

In October 2024, the Hornets exercised the $6.28 million team option for 2025-26.

Trade to Phoenix Suns (2025)

Williams was traded to the Phoenix Suns in June 2025. The Hornets received the No. 29 pick and a 2029 first-round pick in return.

Phoenix Suns (2025-Present)

Williams being dealt from the Hornets felt inevitable after last season's trade to the Lakers at the deadline was reversed due to his failed physical. The Suns also drafted a center in Khaman Maluach, whose immense development has impressed scouts, but he may not yet be ready for a starting role on a Suns team still trying to compete.

NBA Stats and Analysis

Williams has made 62 appearances (36 starts) in two seasons since being drafted.

Season	Team	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
2022-23	Charlotte Hornets	43	17	19.3	9.0	7.1	0.5	0.3	1.0	0.637	0.675
2023-24	Charlotte Hornets	17	17	26.7	12.7	9.7	0.6	0.4	1.1	0.582	0.652
Career		62	36

GP = Games Played, GS = Games Started, MPG = Minutes Per Game, PPG = Points Per Game, RPG = Rebounds Per Game, APG = Assists Per Game, SPG = Steals Per Game, BPG = Blocks Per Game, FG% = Field Goal Percentage, FT% = Free Throw Percentage

Fantasy Basketball Outlook

Staying healthy has been a significant issue for Williams in his first two years in the NBA. Williams is expected to be ready for training camp and be healthy for the start of the 2024-25 campaign, but fantasy managers should approach him with caution due to his injury history. If healthy, though, Williams' size makes him an imposing defensive presence, and his evolving offensive game allows him to be a solid threat at both ends. Williams averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in his 17 appearances during the 2023-24 season, so fantasy managers could use a mid-to-late flyer on him, perhaps moving toward the latter rounds due to the aforementioned injury history.

During his second and final season at Duke in 2021-22, he averaged 11.2 points on a whopping 72.1 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, 7.4 rebounds (2.6 offensive) and 2.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes. His smooth and explosive athleticism and 7-foot-7 wingspan should translate to the NBA right away, and good offensive rebounding is always a nice bonus. The quality free-throw shooting will also help keep him on the court and help fantasy managers, and he may possess some perimeter shooting upside given his proficiency. Even if that doesn't develop and Williams is limited to being a pick-and-roll big on offense, he'll be a great lob target.

tags: #mark #williams #basketball #stats