Playing in his first organized games as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, rookie Shelden Williams is part of the club's rookie/free agent team participating in this week's Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. Drafted in the first round (fifth overall) of last month's draft by Atlanta, "The Landlord" is expected to bring rebounding, shot blocking and a strong inside presence to the Hawks' roster.
The two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year (and 2004-05 National Defensive Player of the Year) at Duke University, Williams is the third player in NCAA history to record 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 350 blocks and 150 steals. Last season, he put up 18.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 3.8 bpg (.584 FG%, .740 FT%).
Named First Team All-America by The Associated Press as a senior, he finished his career as Duke's all-time leader in blocked shots (422, 5th in ACC history), blocks per game (3.04, 6th) and rebounds (1,262, 6th), also placing fifth in career field-goal percentage (.572) and 12th with 1,928 points.
Williams took timeout on Monday, July 17 to chat with fans on www.hawks.com.
If you missed the live chat here is the transcript.
alex,dacula: i want to say first that i am excited about you being in Atlanta.I just want to know what you are gonna bring to the Hawks in this upcoming season?
Shelden Williams: A couple of things, a lowpost presence, a strong defensive presence, and a guy who comes to play real hard every single night.
Robyn (Durham): Hi Shelden! I just wondered--what is your favorite memory at Duke? Thank you on good luck with the Hawks!
Shelden Williams: I guess my favorite memory at Duke is going to the Final Four my sophomore year.
chicago: what went through your mind when you heard the hawks call your name?
Shelden Williams: It was a dream come true, and it finally happened. I worked my whole life to get there, and now I'm in a great situation where what I can do well on the court is something that the team I went to can really use. It's a good situation for me and the team.
Bogan (Mapatassie, Australia): Hi Shelden, congratulations on being picked up by the Hawks. What are your main priorities in your rookie year and do you think you will be nervous before your first game?
Shelden Williams: My priorities are to come in and do the things I did at Duke, play the lowpost, play defense and rebound the basketball. As for being nervous, I'll have some jitters, of course, but I'm hoping that through training camp I can work some of that stuff out.
David, Swampscott Ma: Hey Sheldon! Who was your favorite player or player to look up to as a kid?
Shelden Williams: Growing up, like everybody else I loved Michael Jordan. Then as I got older, I looked at guys who played more of my position and guys like Chris Webber and Karl Malone are two guys who played the way the I try and go about the game.
Thomas (TyTy): What position do you wanna play for the atlanta hawks center or power forward?
Shelden Williams: I've only played power forward my whole life. I was the primary low post guy at Duke, but that was from the power forward position.
Nick,RI: Hey Shelden big fan do you have a pregame ritual?
Shelden Williams: My pregame ritual is I always have to wash my hands before taking the court.
sammy detroit: what nba player do you look forword to playing against.
Shelden Williams: I guess all of them. I don't have a particular guy, but just playing against all those great players. It's going to be an honor to be on the same court as these guys.
nazar (motreal): whitsh number are you going to shoose and why?
Shelden Williams: I wore two numbers my whole life, 23 and 33. In Atlanta 23 is retired, so I'm going to wear 33.
Drew (Winston-Salem, NC): Last year the Hawks drafted former Tar Heel Marvin Williams. What's it like to be on the same team and competing for playing time with him? Is there still any rivalry?
Shelden Williams: To be honest, we won't be competing for playing time, since we play two different positions. I expect we'll be on the court at the same time. As far as rivalry, we've become good friends and we've hung out already so I don't see any of that. We're teammates now.
Bill: Shelden, I am excited with the pick. I am the best Hawks fan in the world. I love baskitball. Are you going to get as many shot blocks as Josh Smith and is shot blocking going to be this teams main attribute?
Shelden Williams: I can't say I will block a certain number of shots, you can't really control that. It depends on the situation. But I do think we'll focus on defense and that is something that I pride myself on, my interior defense. I want to bring some physicality and toughness to our defense.
Mike (Durham): What is the most lasting thing that Coach K taught you?
Shelden Williams: To just be myself. People know what I can bring to the table night in and night out and I need to concentrate on that and I will be successful.
Shelden Williams: Thanks for the questions. I really appreciate your interest and hope you'll keep supporting me and the Atlanta Hawks. Have a great day!
