- Five seasons with Timberwolves (1992-96, 1997-98)
- Averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 assists with Timberwolves
Micheal Williams was a second-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1988 and broke out with the Pacers in 1991-92. He was traded to the Wolves that offseason along with Chuck Person in somewhat of a mini-blockbuster trade that sent Sam Mitchell and Pooh Richardson to Indiana.
Indeed, Williams averaged career-highs in both points (15.1) and assists (8.7) per game in 1992-93. Then, another solid year, averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 assists in 76 games in 1993-94. It surely felt as though the then-27-year-old was headed for a solid prime, and perhaps even an All-Star game appearance or two.
But then, injuries struck and plagued Williams for the remainder of his NBA career. He played in just one game in 1994-95, nine games in 1995-96, and zero games the following year. Then, 25 games in 1997-98 before being traded to Toronto, where he only appeared in two games before retiring in 1999.
Williams still holds the streak for most consecutive made free throws during the NBA regular season, which took place across the end of the 1992-93 season and the beginning of the following campaign. His career free throw mark was 86.8 percent.
Williams was a great all-around player when healthy, distributing the ball at a high rate while maintaining a fairly low number of turnovers. And he scored when called upon, possessing the ability to get the free throw line often and convert when he got there.
His peak and overall talent, which did include two solid years with the Wolves, is more than enough to get him to No. 21 on the list.