Kenrich Williams plays for an NBA franchise that had a 24-58 record the previous year. He is in the third and final year of a $2 million-per-year contract, plays both forward positions, and goes by the moniker “Kenny Hustle.” Keith Smith of CelticsBlog produced a list of players on Monday whom Boston may use its soon-to-expire traded player exemption on.
The 27-year-old ranked second on the list. A few hours later, Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder came to an agreement on a four-year, $27.2 million contract. “This might sound farfetched, but I would like to retire here with the Oklahoma City Thunder, ” Williams told The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto in January.
ESPN Sources: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams has agreed on a four-year, $27.2 million contract extension. The deal, negotiated by @PensackSports, comes for an undrafted player who had no Division I offers out of high school.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2022
Williams is now one of three players that the Thunder will re-sign over the offseason, joining Mike Muscala and Lu Dort. Barring any early terminations, Kenny Hustle’s contract should last until the offseason of 2026. In two seasons with the franchise (115 games), Kenrich has averaged 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists on a 39.1% shooting clip from three.
On the other hand, Williams received minimum pay during his two seasons in New Orleans, and his signed-and-traded three-year contract, which lasts through the upcoming season, pays him just $2 million annually. Williams, who entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent, has already reached the age of 27 after spending five years in college (four at TCU and one at New Mexico Junior College).
Williams intended to take advantage of the opportunity to secure this significant payment. The 6-foot-6 forward has a respectable all-around game and is a versatile defender. If the Thunder are capable of winning in the coming years, he might be able to assist them.
