I met L.D. Williams at Sunday Washed Club. At 6’4” and still built like he could get minutes in the league, L.D. is different from the rest of us at Washed. It says a lot about him and the energy of the run. He comes for the vibe, well knowing he could raise up and dunk on any of us with the slightest of gear shift. I’ve seen it.

After two years with the Brooklyn Nets as an Assistant Video Coordinator / Assistant Player Development Coach and one year as Assistant Coach of the Long Island Nets in the G-League, L.D. is now Player Development Coach with the Chicago Bulls. I sense that Williams brings a valuable perspective to player development. As someone who went undrafted, bounced around the G League, but won multiple ACC All-Defensive team honors, he knows the challenges of making it at the highest level. He knows sacrifices and skill set that can keep a player on the floor.

L.D.’s story is about a pressure moment in his basketball life. You might have watched this moment on television. He takes us to his junior year at Wake Forest. The game is on the line against #1 Duke. He’s team captain and head coach Dino Gaudio has put the ball in his hands. There’s some names on the court in this game. For Wake Forest there’s guys like James Johnson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ish Smith, and Jeff Teague. On the Duke side there’s John Scheyer, Miles Plumlee, Kyle Singler, and Gerald Henderson. It’s Henderson who has just hit a big shot to tie the game at 68.

I’ll let L.D. tell the story from here.

Follow L.D. on Instagram.

Got a story to tell about a court that shaped your basketball life and mind? Reach out through my contact page with a pitch. Let’s keep expanding what it means to be a hooper. Let’s document the far away places throughout the world where basketball made a difference. All walks of hoopers are welcome; whether you’re a pro, ex-pro, or amateur with an indomitable love for basketball.