By Drazen Kanazir/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest transfer in EuroLeague is one of the biggest this offseason. Derrick Williams made it to the Bayern Munich roster just in the nick of time – and that’s why he is not part of the Eurohoops Top 100 EuroLeague players – and he is expected to be one of the marquee names, not only of FC Bayern Munich but also of the league.
The 2nd pick of the 2011 NBA draft finished last season with the L.A. Lakers after a short trip to China for the Tianjin Gold Lions. However, signing in Europe was something different. “It’s the culture, it’s so mixed and diverse”, he explained to Eurohoops. “In Europe with a two-hour drive, you can be in another country and we have players from Germany, from Finland, from the US, from Serbia and that’s the best part”.
Williams explained why he chose Bayern Munich and the EuroLeague and also spoke about the exposure that the league has got in the USA thanks to, among other things, to Luka Doncic’s rise. He also talks about the skills that European basketball brings on the table even in the NBA level, with players like Kristaps Porzingis, Ricky Rubio and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“For me, Bayern is a step forward, is the place I wanted to be”, says Williams who has on the back of his mind a possible NBA return. However, before that, he wants to leave his mark in Europe.