Former Suns F Alan Williams Talks Time in Phoenix, Playing Overseas

Former Phoenix Suns player Alan Williams isn't currently playing basketball, but that's not a personal decision. 

The EuroLeague suspended play earlier this year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which included Williams' club of PBC Lokomotiv Kuban. He had been with the club since 2019. 

He also suffered a rupture of the patellar ligament in his left knee that ended his 2020-21 season. 

Williams, who has several ties to Phoenix, has been through a lot in his career, playing in leagues such as the CBA, NBL, NBA and the G League before playing in the VTB United League. 

He's a native to Phoenix, attending North High School and winning Arizona State Player of the Year before moving on to college. According to his Wiki page, Williams' father is a Justice of the Peace for Maricopa County while his mother is the Chief of Police in Phoenix.

In total, Williams spent two seasons with the Suns after initially signing a ten-day contract. His tenure with the team was filled with promise as a role player, accomplishing feats such as:

• In the 2016 Summer League, he was the only player to average a double-double throughout the event, averaging 11.8 points and a league-leading 11.2 rebounds over six games, earning All-NBA Summer League First Team honors.

• Was just the 10th NBA player with multiple 15/15 games in his first 35 career games in the past 19 seasons

• He became the first player in Suns history with five straight double-doubles off the bench.

However, Williams and the Suns ultimately parted ways following the 2017-18 season. A brief stint with the Brooklyn Nets followed before he went overseas. 

In a recent interview with BasketNews.com, Williams opened up on his time with Phoenix. 

Williams on his time with the Suns

"I was slated to play a lot of minutes with the Suns that year (2017-18) before I got injured," said Williams.

"But that second injury was even worse. Obviously, with Lokomotiv, I was playing the best basketball in my career. Any time you have an injury, you have to dig in with yourself and find what it is that makes you drive and push. Otherwise, you just call it quits and chalk it up. Those things that happened to me are all part of my journey and my story,"

If Williams has any contacts with the Suns

"Not in a professional way, more like in a personal way. I have many friends on the team and the staff. I'm in constant contact with somebody on the team at all times, from text messages to Facetime. Being from Phoenix, I was a fan first, and I had a soft spot for that club and franchise."

Williams' take on the Suns this year

"I think they were the best team in the NBA. What happened just goes to show the talent that the NBA has. It's tough to beat a team four times. Was it a bit of a letdown? Absolutely," said Williams.

"But I don't think that their opportunity and window are closed. They have a good nucleus and a good group of guys. If they all stay healthy throughout the playoffs the following year, I think they'll be back in the finals again."

Williams on playing in Europe

"It's unlike anything else. European fans are different. They have a different passion and drive for their sports clubs. In America, you have die-hard fans who are really invested in their clubs, but the history of it all makes a big difference," said Williams.

"Europe has been around longer - the infrastructure and the sporting world in the continent have been around for a longer period of time. There's a deeply-rooted fanbase behind it. There's a lineage going along the line that creates and develops this true passion and fandom.

"So, when fans feel like players don't give their maximum effort, they're more emotionally driven and attached, and they're taking it personally. The passion of European fans is unreal and one of the reasons why I enjoy playing there so much.

"But I don't think that throwing stuff on the court is ever acceptable whatsoever. It's not going to make us play harder, it's not going to make you feel better. It will only make everybody feel pretty bad."

If any fans have yet to see what at atmosphere is like overseas, this is just a small glimpse: