RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
Helped the Sonics reach their only Finals Championship win in 1979.
He was a 2x All-Star and 2x All-NBA player. At his peak, he topped Magic Johnson in 1982 for All-NBA 1st team honors.
He also might be the most recent NBA player to hold out for an entire season due to a contract dispute.
He peaked in 1982 at 23/7/3.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
I always hated that Washington named their team the Wizards, because The Wizard would make a cool nickname for someone, a la 'Magic'. But it's too confusing to refer to someone as a 'Wizard' when theres a team with that name as well. I'll still refer to Jokic or Lebron or whoever as 'a wizard' but not in a proper nickname fashion.
Never realized someone already had the nickname back then, when Washington was the Bullets. And I dont like recycling nicknames so I guess it's moot that Washington has that name now. Still, I find the whole 'Washington Wizards' brand a bit corny. And I honestly do think such things have a slight psychological impact on performance. Famously the woe-be-gone Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw an immediate turnaround in fortune when they ditched their dated creamsicles and found something a little more modern.
The Wizards and their whole name and logo is bunk. It's not that it's dated, it was just never good to begin with. They need to ****in rebrand all that shit.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
RIP Gus. Never saw him play live, but heard that he was member of that Sonics championship team with Dennis Johnson and Jack Sikma.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
Why is Gus not in the HOF?
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
[QUOTE=Lakers Legend#32;14969821]Why is Gus not in the HOF?[/QUOTE]
Who was considered better between DJ, Gus and Sikma?
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
RIP Gus
Crazy thing is I was currently watching the 1980 WCF. Gus was so damn fast and had range on his shot. Seriously looked like a modern guard. Seattle was an ensemble team and I'd say Gus/DJ/Sikma/Freddie were all at times the best players on that team.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
[url]http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?513662-Someone-who-s-never-talked-about-but-was-up-there-with-Kareem-Magic-Bird-Dr-J[/url]
Absolutely amazing player.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
[QUOTE=Lakers Legend#32;14969821]Why is Gus not in the HOF?[/QUOTE]
Missing a year during his absolute peak didn't help
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
[QUOTE=L.Kizzle;14969824]Who was considered better between DJ, Gus and Sikma?[/QUOTE]
DJ and Sikma are in the HOF but during their time in Seattle (FOKC) I thought Gus was the best.
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
[QUOTE=RRR3;14969932]Missing a year during his absolute peak didn't help[/QUOTE]
Truth
Re: RIP Gus Williams 'The Wizard'
There were a lot of guards in the early 80s who get overlooked.
How was he compared to Micheal Ray Richardson, Otis Birdsong, Fat Lever, Andrew Toney. I mean all these guys I named were All-Stars and All-NBA players.