BALTIMORE — Gus Williams, the legendary NBA guard whose dazzling playmaking earned him the moniker “The Wizard,” has died at the age of 71. Williams, who was pivotal in securing the Seattle SuperSonics’ only NBA championship in 1979, passed away on January 15, 2025.
Diagnosed with a stroke five years prior, Williams had been residing in a Maryland care facility near Baltimore. His health challenges spurred the creation of the Sonics Legends Fund, designed to support former SuperSonics players with their medical expenses.
Williams was born on October 10, 1953, in Mount Vernon, New York. He first made a name for himself playing basketball at Mount Vernon High School before taking his talents to the University of Southern California. There, his outstanding skills on the court earned him second-team All-American honors in 1975.
Gus Williams joined the NBA, embarking on an 11-year career that saw him play for four teams, including a significant stint with the Seattle SuperSonics. Over 825 regular-season games, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. These numbers underscored his reputation as one of the leading guards of his era.
Williams’ playoff performances were especially remarkable, with a scoring average of 19.5 points per game. This statistic ranks him second among retired players not yet inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, provided they played a minimum of 90 games.
Drafted 20th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1975, Williams quickly proved himself by averaging 11.7 points per game in his debut season. His efforts earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team and a near miss for Rookie of the Year, coming in second to Alvan Adams.
In 1977, Williams moved to the SuperSonics, forming a formidable backcourt partnership with Dennis Johnson. His finest hour came during the 1979 NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets, where he led his team with an average of 29 points per game, shooting 50% from the field, to clinch the championship in just five games.
Following that championship season, Williams averaged 22.1 points the next year, placing eighth in the Most Valuable Player voting and landing on the All-NBA Second Team. A contract standoff in 1980 led to him missing the entire season, though he signed a lucrative new deal in June 1981. Despite his absence, the Sonics struggled, finishing with a 34-48 record.
Williams returned spectacularly in the 1981-82 season, notching a career-high average of 23.4 points per game which earned him his first All-Star selection, the NBA Comeback Player of the Year award, and his only First-Team All-NBA honor. He made the All-Star team again in 1983.
After seven seasons with the SuperSonics, Williams was traded to the Washington Bullets, later finishing his professional career with the Atlanta Hawks in 1986-87. His legacy was cemented by the SuperSonics, who retired his No. 1 jersey in 2004; USC followed suit by retiring his No. 10 jersey in 2016.
Gus Williams’ contributions to basketball were not just limited to spectacular plays and accolades. His community involvement and impact on players’ health advocacy through the Sonics Legends Fund are equally part of his enduring legacy.