Williams to Play for Sixers in 2003-04

PHILADELPHIA, PA - July 1, 2003 - Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Billy King announced on Tuesday, July 1 that Monty Williams has elected to exercise the player option on his contract and remain with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2003-04 season.

A 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, Williams averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 21 appearances during the 2002-03 season, his first season in Philadelphia. Williams missed 57 games due to injury in 2002-03. He had left knee surgery on Oct. 25, 2002, repairing a medial meniscal tear sustained during a preseason game at Houston on Oct. 24.

After spending the first 18 games of the season on the injured list, Williams returned to the Sixers lineup on Dec. 4 against Boston, but suffered a left knee bone bruise in the third quarter against Seattle on Dec. 11, forcing him to miss the next 30 games. During the last 30 games of the regular season, left knee problems forced Williams to miss nine games.

Since being drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1994 NBA Draft, Williams has played for five teams during his nine-year NBA career, including six trips to the postseason with four different teams. He initially signed with the 76ers on July 25, 2002.