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Rockets Convert Williams to Two-Way Contract

Originally posted on Houston Rockets on SI
By Coty M. Davis | Last updated 10/23/23

The Houston Rockets have converted Nate Williams to a two-way contract, a source told Inside the Rockets Monday afternoon.

The move came five days after Williams gave the Rockets a significant boost off the bench during their 117-103 preseason loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting while adding eight rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes inside the Frost Bank Center.

"For me, it's all about playing well," Williams said. "I put in a ton of work all my life and this summer...It's all about playing the right way."

With the acquisition of Williams, the Rockets made additional roster changes ahead of the 2023-24 season. Houston waived Darius Days and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl before signing Williams.

Days, who signed with the team a week before the start of the 2022-23 season, was one of three players who held a two-way contract.

He spent most of last season assigned to the Rockets G League affiliate team, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors. In 29 regular season games for the Vipers, Days averaged 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.0 3-pointers made.

Robinson-Earl arrived in Houston following the trade that sent Kevin Porter Jr. to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite not playing for the Rockets, Robinson-Earl has averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in two seasons in Oklahoma City.

After beginning last season in the G League, Williams signed with Portland on April 1 and made his NBA debut the following day. Over the final five games of 2022-23, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the floor.

In 32 G League games for the Salt Lake City Stars, Williams averaged 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 3-pointers made on 42.0 percent shooting.

"He is a natural and fluent scorer," coach Ime Udoka said. "He is a guy that gives us a burst. He can play with many different lineups. And since he has come in, he has been one of the better guys with our second and third unit."

This article first appeared on Houston Rockets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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