Gus Williams (1953–2025), Seattle SuperSonics All-Star
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2 min readGus Williams was a 12-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics who helped lead the team to victory in the 1979 NBA Finals.
- Died: January 15, 2025 (Who else died on January 15?)
- Details of death: Died of complications from a stroke at the age of 71.
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Gus Williams’ legacy
Williams was already an NBA champion by the time he became an All-Star player. In 1979, the point guard led the Seattle SuperSonics in scoring and helped push his team to a five-game victory in the NBA Finals, a crowning achievement for “The Wizard” in a career full of them.
He began as a star athlete at Mount Vernon High in New York, drawing raves for his play and being honored as the 1971 player of the year by the New York State Sportswriters Association. After playing for the University of Southern California, he was drafted in the NBA’s second round in 1975 and started his career with the Golden State Warriors. Williams excelled right away, earning All-Rookie team honors his first year. He also came in second in Rookie of the Year voting.
He signed with Seattle as a free agent for the 1977–’78 season and remained with the team through 1984. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for himself, either. After winning a championship in 1979, Williams sat out the 1980–’81 season, thanks to a contract dispute, right at his career’s prime. His absence was felt: The SuperSonics went from 56 wins to just 34 without him on the roster.
When Williams returned in 1981, he showed no signs of slowing down. He went to the All-Star Game that season, was named Comeback Player of the Year, made the All-NBA First Team, and was seventh in the league overall in scoring. He was named an All-Star the year after that, too, showcasing what the team missed during his season off the court.
The Wizard finally left Seattle in 1984, closing out his career with the Washington Bullets. In 2004, the Sonics honored his legacy by retiring his No. 1 jersey.
Tributes to Gus Williams
Full obituary: The Seattle Times
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