Nate Williams Bio
Jeenathan Lewis “Nate” Williams Jr. (born February 12, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 205 pounds, he works primarily as a shooting guard and small forward. He played college basketball for the Buffalo Bulls from 2018 to 2022 and has continued to develop as a versatile scorer at the professional level.
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Williams carved out a professional path that included NBA and G League stops. He has earned recognition for his scoring ability, rebounding, and perimeter skill set, highlighted by a First-team All-MAC selection in 2022 during his senior season at Buffalo.
Early Life and Background
Nate Williams was born on February 12, 1999, in Rochester, New York. He grew up in the same city and developed his game in local youth basketball circles before entering the high school ranks. His size and skill combination became apparent early, and he drew attention from prep coaches and recruiters in the region.
Williams attended University Prep Charter School for Young Men in Rochester. As a junior, he averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game, which was enough to earn a spot on the Class AA all-state fifth team. For his senior year, he transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, where he averaged 15.8 points per game and competed on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit with the City Rocks alongside future pros Isaiah Stewart and Buddy Boeheim.
Coming out of high school, Williams was rated as a four-star recruit and became the highest-rated signee in Buffalo program history according to Rivals.com. He chose the Buffalo Bulls over several Power Conference programs, including Syracuse, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Temple, and St. Bonaventure.
Path to Basketball
Williams enrolled at the University at Buffalo in 2018, joining a Buffalo Bulls program that was on the rise. As a freshman, he played a limited role on a stacked roster, averaging 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game while the team finished 32–4 and was ranked throughout the season.
During his sophomore year, Williams moved into the starting lineup and increased his production to 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. After the season, he spent time working on his ballhandling and perimeter shooting with coaches in Florida and California. The offseason work paid off, and he opened his junior year with a 28-point, 12-rebound performance against Towson on November 27, 2020, finishing the year averaging 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists to earn Second-team All-MAC honors.
Nate Williams Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
After going unselected in the 2022 NBA draft, Williams joined the Utah Jazz for the 2022 NBA Summer League. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Jazz on October 11, 2022, but was waived the next day. On October 19, 2022, he signed with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League, where he opened his professional career as a featured perimeter scorer.
Williams made his NBA debut on April 2, 2023, after signing with the Portland Trail Blazers the day before. He scored 7 points in a 107–105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, becoming the first Buffalo alumnus to play in the NBA since Sam Pellom forty years earlier. The Trail Blazers waived him on July 28, 2023.
Houston Rockets (2023–2025)
On August 2, 2023, Williams signed with the Houston Rockets, and his deal was converted into a two-way contract on October 23. He appeared in the Rockets’ season opener on October 25, scoring four points in limited minutes.
Williams signed another two-way contract with Houston on July 3, 2024. On March 2, 2025, the Rockets converted his deal into a four-year, $8.2 million standard contract. Across 20 appearances during the 2024–25 NBA season, he averaged 3.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. Houston waived him on July 13, 2025.
Long Island Nets (2025–Present)
Following his release from Houston, Williams signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on September 27, 2025, but was waived prior to the start of the regular season on October 18. He quickly landed with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League, where he continues to play as a rotation wing.
With Long Island, Williams has returned to a featured offensive role in the G League, where his scoring package and positional size fit comfortably at shooting guard and small forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williams profiles as a long, scoring-oriented wing who can create offense off the dribble and finish through contact. He has shown comfort scoring from mid-range and beyond the arc, and his rebounding from the wing position has been a steady contribution throughout his career. His progression from a limited freshman role at Buffalo to a multi-year NBA contract reflects steady growth in his perimeter game and professional polish.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams became the first former Buffalo Bull to play in the NBA since Sam Pellom when he debuted with the Portland Trail Blazers on April 2, 2023. He was named First-team All-MAC in 2022 and Second-team All-MAC in 2021, and he later secured a four-year, $8.2 million standard NBA contract with the Houston Rockets in March 2025.
Nate Williams Career Wins
Williams has accumulated verified professional and collegiate accolades, including First-team All-MAC honors in 2022 and Second-team All-MAC honors in 2021. At the NBA level, his debut victory with the Portland Trail Blazers stands out as a milestone moment in his career.
NCAA and G League Highlights
During his senior season at Buffalo, Williams opened with a career-high 32 points and eight rebounds against sixth-ranked Michigan on November 10, 2021, earning First-team All-MAC recognition. He continued his scoring form at the professional level with the Salt Lake City Stars and later with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League, building a track record as a reliable perimeter scorer.
Other Wins and Performances
Williams made his NBA debut scoring 7 points in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in April 2023, and he also posted a 28-point, 12-rebound junior-year performance against Towson on November 27, 2020. He reached a four-year, $8.2 million standard NBA contract with the Houston Rockets in March 2025, a major milestone for an undrafted player.
Nate Williams Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Public information on Williams’s immediate family is limited. His full name, Jeenathan Lewis Williams Jr., suggests a family naming tradition, though detailed records about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Williams resides in the United States and keeps his personal life largely private. There is no public confirmation of a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Williams began 2025 still on the Houston Rockets roster. He appeared in 20 games during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 3.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game, while continuing to develop his perimeter game within a deep Houston rotation.
After being waived by the Rockets in July 2025, Williams had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in late September before being waived before the regular season. He joined the Long Island Nets in October 2025, where he is expected to take on an expanded offensive role in the G League.
Looking ahead, the 2025–26 G League season gives Williams an opportunity to showcase his scoring package and push for another NBA opportunity. His four-year, $8.2 million contract history and prior NBA minutes suggest he remains firmly on NBA radars as a development wing.