The Tragic Death of Gus Williams: 4 Controversial Moments Involving The Wizard You Never Knew About

Former NBA star Gus Williams passed away on Wednesday leaving the NBA fans and analysts to mourn. Williams who was also known as the Wizard played a very important role in the Seattle SuperSonics’ 1979 NBA championship. However, despite his success, including multiple All-Star selections, his career has often been overlooked. Williams’ legacy was tainted with issues involving contract disputes and missed opportunities. Still, he made his name in the league rising above the challenges in his basketball career. Here are the controversial moments involving Williams you may never heard of.

Gus Williams was sidelined by a contract dispute
Gus Williams’ contract dispute during the 1980-81 NBA season left a lasting impact on his career and the Seattle SuperSonics. After leading the team to their 1979 championship and establishing himself as an elite guard, Williams demanded a salary to match his performance.
The dispute occurred when the negotiations with management did not go as Williams intended. Williams was firm with his demand as he chose to sit out the entire season. Without their star, the Sonics faced several huge blows. They dropped from 56 wins the previous season to just 34.
The Golden State Warriors almost didn’t pick Gus Williams
After excelling at USC, Gus Williams faced skepticism about his potential as a professional player. According to an article published in the 1981 issue of Basketball Digest, Williams slipped to the second round of the 1975 NBA Draft, selected by the Golden State Warriors. Players like Frank Oleynick, Bob Bigelow, and Kevin Grevey were chosen ahead of him. Even the Warriors opted for Joe Bryant in the first round before taking a chance on Williams.
“We got awfully lucky getting him in the second round,” the Warriors’ general manager at the time, Dick Vertlieb said of Williams. “In college, Gus never got to show off how good a player he was. He wasn’t in the right system,” he continued. “Gus Williams is a bird. He has to fly. You can’t keep him under wraps. I thought that, with Phil Smith and Gus Williams, we would have as good a pair of guards as there was in the NBA,” Vertlieb added.
The Boston Celtics refused to sign Gus Williams
The Boston Celtics considered signing Gus Williams but ultimately chose veteran Dave Bing instead. "Once you sign a Dave Bing, you don’t need a Gus Williams,” Celtics coach Red Auerbach said at the time.
Williams’ future was uncertain as many believed that he would not be in the league for long. The Lakers showed interest but backed away, with Jerry West reportedly doubting Williams’ long-term potential. According to sources, West believed Williams might not last in the league for more than two years. “Gus has blinding speed, but most systems are not geared for that kind of speed,” Vertlieb said reflecting on the moment. “Most teams just run a different style,” he added.
Gus Williams remained unsigned during 1980-81
Williams was often regarded as Seattle’s second-best guard. Of course, his skill set drew interest from teams like New York and Portland during his free agency following the playoffs. However, compensation owed to the Sonics if he signed elsewhere scared off several teams.
Also Read: Gus Williams Dies at 71: NBA World Mourns as Two-Time All-Star Passes Away
Portland addressed its need for a quick guard by trading for Kelvin Ransey instead. As the 1980-81 NBA season began, Williams remained unsigned, skipping training camp while staying at his New York home. Seattle’s management remained optimistic he would eventually accept their offer. “I don’t know what [Sonics owner] Sam [Schulman] is thinking, but it is my opinion that they will try very hard to keep him,” Vertlieb said. “They know what they’ll have to pay for him, but I doubt if they’ll let him get away. He’s as good a guard as you’re going to find.” Williams had several tragic chapters involving his career but amid all odds he made his name in the league.
Williams ended his NBA career in 1987 with the Atlanta Hawks.