Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed information on Derrick Williams:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Derrick LeRon Williams
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born May 25, 1991
  • Hometown: La Mirada, California
  • Height: 6’8″ (2.03 m)
  • Weight: 240 lbs (109 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7’1″ (2.16 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore #7, #23, #13, #2, and #5 during his career
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: La Mirada High School, La Mirada, California
  • College: University of Arizona (2009–2011)
  • NBA Draft: 2011 NBA Draft, 2nd overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Teams Played For:
    • Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2013)
    • Sacramento Kings (2013–2015)
    • New York Knicks (2015–2016)
    • Miami Heat (2016–2017)
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (2017)
    • International career after the NBA, including stints with Bayern Munich, Panathinaikos, and Valencia Basket.
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Derrick Williams’ player archetype was that of an athletic combo forward — a tweener scoring forward who blended power, straight-line burst, and face-up offense, but never settled cleanly into either a full-time wing or a traditional big role. Defensively, he projected more as a matchup-dependent forward than a true stopper, with enough strength and explosiveness to survive some frontcourt assignments but not the consistent rim protection, lateral discipline, or positional clarity to anchor a scheme. Offensively, his best work came as a transition finisher, slasher, cutter, and complementary scorer who could attack closeouts, finish above the rim, and occasionally space the floor, rather than operate as a primary creator. His physical traits — a strong 6-foot-8 frame, good length, powerful leaping ability, and open-floor athleticism — made him visually imposing and helped fuel the upside that followed him into the league. Overall, Williams played like a high-energy scoring forward whose tools and versatility were intriguing, even if his long-term NBA fit remained caught between positions.

Sources:

NBADraft.net — Derrick Williams
Liberty Ballers — Scouting report: Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona Wildcats
Bleacher Report — NBA Draft 2011 Scouting Report Profile: Derrick Williams
Bullets Forever — 2011 Draft Prospect Profile – Derrick Williams