In This Article

  • NBA Draft 2025: Amari Williams Selected by Boston Celtics
  • Amari Williams' Career Journey
  • Historical Perspective: British Players in the NBA
  • Celtics' New Recruit: Amari Williams
  • Basketball's Growing Popularity in the UK

Key Takeaways

  • Amari Williams, a British basketball player, was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft, making him the third English-born player in the NBA.
  • Williams played for four years at Drexel University and the University of Kentucky before being drafted.
  • The Celtics, with a record 18 championship wins, drafted Williams as the second player in the 2025 draft, following Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez.
  • Basketball is rapidly growing in popularity in the UK, with over 1.5 million people playing the sport weekly.
  • Amari Williams joins Tosan Evbuomwan of the Brooklyn Nets and OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks as English-born players in the NBA.

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British basketball sensation Amari Williams has made history as he was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 23-year-old is now the third English-born player to grace the NBA, joining Tosan Evbuomwan of the Brooklyn Nets and OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks.

Originally hailing from Nottingham, Williams honed his skills at Myerscough College in Lancashire before moving to the United States, where he attended Drexel University and the University of Kentucky.

For four years, Williams played for the Drexel Dragons, earning the CAA Defensive Player of the Year title an impressive three times. He then transferred to Kentucky, averaging 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the Wildcats last season.

The first British-born player to play in the NBA was Chris Harris, who represented the St. Louis Hawks and Rochester Royals in the 1955-56 season. Jeremy Sochan, a San Antonio Spurs player, was born in the United States but raised in England, having played for multiple English teams, most notably the Southampton-based Solent Kestrels. Sochan is classified as a British player by the NBA, despite representing Poland internationally.

The Celtics, the most successful team in NBA history with a record 18 championship wins, are set to benefit from Williams' arrival. He is the second player to join the team in the 2025 draft, following Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez, who was picked as the 28th overall pick in the first round on Wednesday.

Basketball is rapidly growing in popularity in the UK, with over 1.5 million people playing the sport on a weekly basis, making it the second most popular team sport in the country.

**Related topics:**
- Basketball
- NBA
- Boston Celtics
- England
- Draft

Tags:

#England #NBA #basketball #Boston Celtics #Draft** **