USC Player Spotlight: An Appreciation Of Gus Williams

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You can make a case that Gus Williams (1972-75) was the most successful player in USC history. An All-American in 1975 (which by itself puts him above many better-known players), Williams then enjoyed a stellar pro career, scoring 14,093 points and averaging 17.1 points per game (by comparison Paul Westphal scored 12,809 points and averaged 15.6). Williams led the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1979 NBA title and averaged 28.6 points in the NBA Finals. He was a first-team All-NBA pick in 1982. His No. 1 jersey is retired by the Sonics.

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37 thoughts on “USC Player Spotlight: An Appreciation Of Gus Williams

  1. Who just so happens to be the answer to TODAY’S Trojan Trivia:

    Name the USC basketball star whose acrobatic and flashy style of play earned him the nickname “Wizard”………

  2. Finally, something worth more than Lane Kiffin updates and soccer news. Unfortunately, SW is wrong again. Demar Derozan is going to be most successful USC Trojan basketball player of all-time. If he plays 15 season, he will have over 17,000 points. No former USC player is even close. With that being said, Bill Sharman is the greatest USC basketball player based on all of his achievements (10 NBA rings). He even won a NC while playing 1st base on the USC baseball team. And SW didn’t mention but Gus Williams was a 2nd team All-American in 1975. Bill Sharman was a 1st team All-American in 1950. It’s not even close, Bill > Demar > Paul > Gus…and that’s not even considering Tex Winter.

    • DeRozan needs to show that he can stay healthy for a number of seasons in a row, or else he ends up like Brandon Roy and Derrick Rose … could have been the best if healthy.

      • He’s played in 73.8 games per year, on average, during his first 6 seasons. I don’t think he is anywhere near Roy or Rose with missed games.

          • Stalker, you are up early this morning. Is the nuthouse serving pancakes or waffles? Shuffle board later today? Do you have to sign up to use the computer all day ever day?

          • Golly_Nerd, did you have another late night stalking Scott Wolf? Poor Golly_Nerd! Better wheel out your Wooden sock puppet today for relief.

          • The stalker must have lost someone, since he is now down to only following 464 people….unless that one person was finally able to get a restraining order……

          • Garry Bleauz is up to 5337 stalking comments against his fellow journalist Scott Wolf. Wolf should get a retraining order against you, you creep.

          • Golly_Nerd are you flying out today to DC for the big Comic Con tomorrow to achieve your lifetime dream of William Shatner autograph?

          • Stalker, why did you not respond sooner? Was it group therapy time this morning? Or did you have arts and crafts clean up? Either way, glad you are still here today. What’s the movie of the day at the nuthouse?

          • Golly_Nerd, are you going to take sas and Garry Bleauz to a Comic Con Convention next month? Garry Bleauz wants to go as Jabba the Hut.

          • Unlike you, Golly_Nerd, I have a job and don’t live on Social Security like you do, due to your mental health disability.

        • Only Golly_Nerd would claim DeRozan “is going to be most successful USC Trojan basketball player of all-time.” LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Golly_Nerd is letting his full rah rah out. Until Demar wins a NBA tile he can’t come close to Gus.

  3. Gus also won NBA comeback player of the year after sitting out a season over a contract dispute. They changed the rules after that limiting comebacks to injuries.

  4. Gus Williams was about a 44% shooter and 75% from the free throw line.

    Bill Sharman was about 42% and 87% (albeit in his day few players shot above 40% from the field); he also won 4 NBA titles with Boston

    Paul Westphal was a 50% shooter and 82% at the free throw line

    Hard to pick between these 3 great Trojans.

    • Sharman lead the Celtics to championships as a player and the Lakers to their first championship as a coach.

  5. I have to agree with Wolf on this one. Gus Williams with his patented behind the back passes and spectacular dunks was the closest player to Magic Johnson before Magic started his illustrious career. Over shadowed by the other two guards the Sonics had at the time (Dennis Johnson and Freddy Brown) Gus was truly one of the games most underrated players and simply the most fun to watch at that time.

  6. Krapola pop quiz:

    What Klown U Basketball player(s) have won both a NCAA NC and NBA championship?

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