William Avery (basketball)

infobox Euroleague Player


name = William Avery
nickname =
position = Point guard
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lbs = 200
league = Greek League
team = Trikala 2000
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|1979|8|8
birth_place = Augusta, Georgia
college = Duke
draft = 14^th overall
draft_year = 1999
draft_team = Minnesota Timberwolves
career_start = 1999
career_end =
former_teams = Minnesota Timberwolves (1999–2002)
Strasbourg IG (2002–2003)
Makedonikos Alfa (2003)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv (2004)
Hapoel Jerusalem (2004–2005)
Azovmash Mariupol (2005)
Panionios (2005–2006)
ALBA Berlin (2006–2007)
Galatasaray Café Crown (2007)
AEK Athens (2007–2008)
awards =

William "Will" Avery (born August 8, 1979 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American professional basketball player. He is currently playing with the pro club Trikala 2000.

Pro career

NBA

Avery, a 6'2" (1.88 m) point guard from Duke University, was selected 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Draft after his year, when he (along with Elton Brand and Corey Maggette) became one of the first players under Mike Krzyzewski to leave Duke before graduating. He was considered a draft bust, never having lived up to expectations. He averaged 2.7 points per game and 1.4 assists per game in 142 NBA games over three seasons with the Timberwolves.

Israel and Europe

Avery was not signed by any NBA teams after his 3-year contract with the Timberwolves expired in 2002, so he moved his career overseas. Since then, Avery has played with the following pro clubs: Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli League, Strasbourg IG of the French League, Azovmash Mariupol of the Ukrainian League, Makedonikos Alfa, Panionios, and AEK Athens of the Greek League, ALBA Berlin of the German League, and Galatasaray Café Crown of the Turkish League.

Avery was released from Galatasaray in October 2007, just three months after signing with the club. He then immediately moved to Greece and signed with AEK Athens. He joined Trikala 2000 in 2008.

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/william_avery/index.html William Avery] @ NBA.com
* [http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=AVERYWI01 NBA stats] @ basketballreference.com
* [http://www.safsal.co.il/player2498.aspx Player Profile] @ Safsal.co.il
* [http://www.hoopshype.com/players/william_avery.htm HoopsHype.com Profile]