Gus "the Wizard" Williams, who led the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics to a championship, has died at 71 years old.
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We're deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Supersonics great Gus "The Wizard" Williams.
Forever a legend + champion. pic.twitter.com/2UbUoX4BVN
— Seattle Supersonics (@SeattleSonics) January 16, 2025
Drafted with the No. 20 overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft out of USC, Williams went on to play 11 seasons in the league, earning two All-Star team selections (1982, 1983).
Notably, during the '79-80 title season, Williams led the Sonics with 22.1 points and 2.4 steals.
His postseason performance cemented him as an all-time legend in Seattle, as Gus averaged 26.7 points per game, which was enough to help the SuperSonics win the 1979 NBA Finals, their only championship in franchise history.
Rest in Peace, Gus Williams.
1979 Western Conference Finals, Game 7: pic.twitter.com/micQezSbpP
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) January 16, 2025
Gus Williams has the 2nd highest playoff scoring average of any retired player in NBA history who is not in the Basketball HOF (minimum 90 playoff games).
Gus led the way when the Seattle Sonics made their championship run in 1979, averaging 26.7 PPG over 17 games. pic.twitter.com/6iB8ysIdtS
— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) January 16, 2025
Williams efforts didn't go unnoticed, as he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated that year.
Then Gus shocked the league when he sat out the 1980-81 season due to a contract dispute.
Nevertheless, Williams came back stronger than ever during the 1981-82 season, as he averaged a career-high 23.4 points per game.
That is, he was named the NBA Comeback Player of the Year, in addition to being selected to the All-NBA first team.
RIP Gus Williams - Seattle SuperSonics Legend. Williams was on the 1979 Sonics championship team, 2x All Star, played in Seattle from 1977-1984 and his #1 is retired - and his #10 at USC. pic.twitter.com/cjEiPk7Duu
— Ave (@SebastianAvenue) January 16, 2025
Throughout his six seasons in Seattle, Williams was adorned by the fans for his scoring and speed. And in honor of his time spent as a SuperSonic, at the age of 50, "the Wizard of Seattle" had his No. 1 jersey retired during game vs. the Denver Nuggets at KeyArena (March 26, 2004).
The cause of death for Williams was not revealed, but he did suffer a stroke in February 2020 and was then later moved to an assisted care facility in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Former Seattle SuperSonics player Wally Walker paid tribute to his teammate upon hearing the news of Williams' passing.
"His energy was always so positive and his sense of humor was always there," Walker said. "He got along with everybody. It was always fun with Gus, and a lot of laughs."
"He had a lot of sayings that were just funny. One of his was, 'There were only two kinds of people, the quick and the dead.' And of course, he was the quick. He was lightning quick and fast, both, and he was a one-man fast break. He got the ball and he weaved through traffic. He was just so fast. No one ever caught him."
RIP to the Wizard of Seattle.
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