'I'm proof English players can reach the NBA'

The rising basketball star who has become only the third English-born active player in the NBA has said his selection proved it was "possible to come from England and still reach the higher stage".

Amari Williams was drafted by Boston Celtics, one of the sport's biggest sides, on Friday and will join the 18-times champions ahead of the new season in the US in October.

The 23-year-old, who is originally from Nottingham, moved up to Lancashire to perfect his game at Myerscough College near Preston before moving to Drexel University and the University of Kentucky.

He said his success was inspired by "a lot of guys I watched here in England from when I was 10, some of who aren't playing any more".

Williams, who is 7ft (2.1m) tall, attended Trinity College in Nottingham before he moved to Lancashire at the age of 16.

He said he felt "moving away from home was the most fun I ever had" and he had loved his time in rural Lancashire, despite the fact when he went, he "only knew one other person going into that college".

"Being in the farm area of Preston there's not much to do, but that's where the brotherhood forms," he said.

He said his days at Myerscough College had been "jam-packed".

"We used to wake up at 07:45 just to do shooting practice and then we'd go to class, and come back for shooting practice afterwards.

"My coach and the trainers we had, prepared all of us for when we were to make the next step, whether that was here or in America.

"There's a lot of guys I watched here in England from when I was 10, some of who aren't playing any more, but they're the ones who really inspired me to get here."

Williams has spent the last year playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, a college side at the University of Kentucky, where he had a successful season.

He said the move to Boston was the right one, especially with the club's record in the NBA: a record-breaking 18 titles.

He added that it had felt "surreal" to see his name on the screen during the draft process.

"Boston Celtics have had a lot of champions over the years and they won in 2024, so it's definitely a winning side," he said.

He added that while he was looking forward to playing his part in the new campaign, he was currently more focused on getting used to his new surroundings.

"At the moment, I'm seeing a lot of new things: staff, players, the facilities, the city, and I'm enjoying it," he said.

Williams will join Newcastle-born Tosan Evbuomwan, who plays for Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks's Ogugua Anunoby, who is from London, in flying the flag for England's talent in basketball's most famous league.

A total of 16 British players have played in the NBA since its inception in 1946.

Of those, four were part of Great Britain's 2012 Olympic side.

Chris Harris was the first, playing for St Louis Hawks and Rochester Royals during the 1955-1956 season.

OG Anunoby, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Steve Bucknall and Byron Mullens are the only five Brits to play in the play-offs.

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