Mo Williams

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Lore & Background

Williams arrived in Cleveland on August 13, 2008, as part of a six-player trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Upon joining the Cavaliers, he changed his jersey number to #2 because his traditional #25 was retired by Mark Price. His impact was immediate; on February 10, 2009, he was selected to replace Chris Bosh in the NBA All-Star Game, becoming a second alternate after Ray Allen filled the spot for Jameer Nelson. Just one day later, on February 11, Williams exploded for 44 points and 7 assists against the Phoenix Suns, setting a new career high. The 2008–09 season saw the Cavaliers reach a league-best 66–16 record, with the team going an impressive 39–2 at Quicken Loans Arena. Williams became a vocal leader after LeBron James departed in 2010, even criticizing Dwyane Wade's comments about the franchise and hinting on Twitter that he did not wish to be traded. His tenure included memorable clutch moments, such as his first buzzer-beater as a Cavalier on November 24, 2010, a 15-foot shot over Brandon Jennings to secure an 83–81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, where he led all scorers with 25 points.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at Quicken Loans Arena was electric as Mo Williams prepared for his return in 2015. After a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers and other teams, he signed a two-year, $4.3 million contract on July 10, 2015, reuniting with LeBron James. In his first game back on October 27, Williams started in place of the injured Kyrie Irving against the Chicago Bulls, tallying 19 points and 7 assists. For the first 23 games of that season, he played in 20, starting 14 of them while averaging 13.0 points and 4.1 assists. However, the second half of his return was marred by injury. A torn ligament in his right thumb reduced his minutes upon Kyrie Irving's December 20 return. Williams also battled swelling in his left knee diagnosed as chondromalacia, which limited him to just one game between February 18 and March 24. He made a brief return on March 26 against the New York Knicks, scoring eight points in 13 minutes off the bench, but increasing soreness in early April forced him out again. Despite these setbacks, his leadership remained evident until he retired as a player in 2017 after winning his only NBA championship with the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals.

Reader's Guide

Mo Williams played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during two distinct periods: from August 2008 to February 2011, and again from July 2015 until his retirement in 2017. During his first tenure, he was a primary ball-handler and All-Star who helped guide the team to a 66–16 record. He wore jersey #2 and was known for his ability to score in bunches, highlighted by a 44-point game against Phoenix in February 2009. Key moments include replacing an injured Chris Bosh in the 2009 All-Star Game and hitting a buzzer-beater over Brandon Jennings on November 24, 2010. His second stint began with high hopes of reuniting with LeBron James, but injuries to his thumb and knee significantly limited his playing time after December 2015. Williams averaged 13.0 points in the first 23 games of that season before his role diminished. He ultimately secured an NBA championship with Cleveland in 2016 before retiring in 2017.

Did You Know?

• Williams changed his jersey number to #2 in Cleveland because the team had retired #25 for Mark Price.
• In February 2009, Williams scored a then-career-high 44 points against the Phoenix Suns just one day after being selected as an All-Star replacement.
• During the 2008–09 season, the Cavaliers set a franchise record with a 66–16 overall record and went 39–2 at home.
• On November 24, 2010, Williams hit his first buzzer-beater as a Cavalier to defeat his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, 83–81.
• Williams won his only NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals before retiring in 2017.