Greek basketball club AEK announced on Monday morning, August 17, 2026, the surprise signing of American forward Derrick Williams on a two-year contract.
The 35-year-old veteran has already arrived in Greece and was present at SUNEL Arena following a secretive negotiation between the club and player.
AEK confirmed the agreement for the 2.03-meter forward is structured as a 1+1 contract, keeping Williams in Athens for up to two seasons.
The announcement came as a surprise on Monday, with the club releasing a brief social media statement to confirm the deal.
Return to Greek Basketball
Williams is returning to Greek basketball after previously playing in the country for Panathinaikos during the 2022/23 season.
Following his spell with Panathinaikos in Athens, the forward spent time competing in professional leagues in Puerto Rico and South Korea.
AEK Basketball Club plays its home matches at SUNEL Arena, an indoor sports facility located in the Greek capital.
The team, known traditionally as Enosi or the yellow-and-blacks, competes in the top tier of Greek basketball and European competitions.
Career Statistics in EuroLeague and NBA
Before his latest move, Williams built an extensive career across Europe in the EuroLeague, the top club competition on the continent.
He has played 160 matches in the EuroLeague, recording averages of 11 points and 3.6 rebounds in 25 minutes and 11 seconds of playing time per game.
During his EuroLeague career, Williams represented five major clubs: Bayern Munich in Germany, Fenerbahce in Turkey, Valencia in Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, and Panathinaikos in Greece.
Prior to his career in European basketball, Williams spent several seasons playing in North America in the National Basketball Association.
The American forward played 428 regular season games in the NBA, compiling career averages of 8.9 points and 4 rebounds per contest.
His NBA career included appearances for five teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Born in 1991, Williams stands 2.03 meters tall and brings extensive top-level experience to the AEK squad.
