Happy Birthday To Mount Vernon’s Gus Williams

Gus Williams, who was born in Mount Vernon, turns 61 on Friday.

Williams, a retired professional basketball player, most noted for his play with the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, was born Oct. 10, 1953. 

Williams played high school basketball at Mount Vernon High School, where he was selected player of the year in 1971 by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Williams signed with the Golden State Warriors for the 1975–76 season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Williams played only two seasons with the Warriors and was allowed to leave as a free agent before the 1977–78 season, signing with the Seattle SuperSonics. While with Seattle, he was twice selected to the NBA All-Star Game, and was an All-NBA First Team (1982) and All-NBA Second Team (1980) selection.

Williams, whose style of play earned him the nickname "Wizard," led the Sonics to the 1979 championship while averaging team high 28.6 points per game in the Finals. In 1983, he signed with the Washington Bullets and in 1986 signed with the Atlanta Hawks. He finished his career with a 17.1 point-per-game scoring average in a career spanning 12 years from 1975 to 1987.

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