Kenrich Williams

Kenrich Williams's Biography

Kenrich Lo “Kenny Hustle” Williams was born on December 2, 1994 in Waco, Texas, and from an early age developed a strong passion for basketball. Known for his tenacious playing style and absolute commitment to the sport, the young lad exhibits extraordinary talent even amidst the ebbs and flow of his Basketball journey.

Entering University High School in Waco, Williams soon moved up to join the varsity team in his junior year under the experienced guidance of coach Rodney Smith. Equipped with boundless energy and superior physical agility, he led the team to an impressive 28-5 record in his senior year, simultaneously achieving personal averages of 14.6 points and 9.9 rebounds. This feat won him the coveted District 8-4A Defensive Player of the Year. Unfortunately, lack of sufficient exposure via the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) seemed to hurt his prospects, and he didn’t receive any Division I offer post-high school.

This minor setback in his path didn’t deter young Williams, as he joined New Mexico Junior College. His freshman season saw him put an impressive 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds on the board per game. Hard work mixed with evident talent caught the eyes of the Texas Christian University (TCU) recruiters. Despite TCU’s lackluster performance in the previous season, with not a single win in conference games, Williams decided to join their ranks.

At TCU, he had an eventful sophomore year, with an average of 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on an augmented 18–15 team improvement. However, a severe knee injury needing surgery halted his burgeoning career, leading to him being sidelined for the entire 2015–16 basketball season. The loss was mutual, with TCU managing only a 12-win season without their star player.

Following recovery, Williams returned to the court stronger than ever. An impressive season average of 11.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and a phenomenal 19 double-doubles reinstated his reputation. His contribution was instrumental in TCU’s impressive 85-82 upset victory against Kansas in the Big 12 quarterfinals. Williams further registered TCU’s first triple-double in history, and his outstanding performance in the NIT championship earned him the NIT Most Valuable Player award.

His success continued into his senior year, where he once again proved indispensable for TCU, achieving 13.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, led TCU to a #6 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, the season climax proved disappointing, with TCU facing a shocking 57-52 upset loss against Syracuse in which Williams scored 14 points.

Despite not being picked in the 2018 NBA draft, Williams’s perseverance landed him a spot with the Denver Nuggets for NBA Summer League. Eventually, he signed a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and made his NBA debut in a blowout victory against the Houston Rockets in October 2018. Yet, he was assigned to the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League, finally setting a new career-high of 21 points in a game against Denver Nuggets in January 2019.

On November 2020, in a crucial four-team trade, Williams was sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and later re-signed a four-year contract extension worth $27.2 million in July 2022. It was in a game against the Thunder he had the unique distinction of being the defender when NBA legend LeBron James broke the all-time NBA scoring record. Williams’ 2022-23 season ended prematurely due to a left wrist injury, requiring surgery. He also underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee in September 2024.

Williams’ journey is one of grit and vigor, captivating basketball enthusiasts worldwide. His career is an incredible testament to his love for basketball and the unstinting efforts he puts into the sport.