Ex-NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams Embarking on Boxing Journey
Former NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams has discovered a new arena, with the 33-year-old set to make his first appearance as an amateur boxer on May 29 in New York.
A nine-year veteran of the NBA, Carter-Williams will face off against 36-year-old Sam Khativ in a three-round heavyweight match at the Leman Ballroom. The "Broad Street Brawl" will raise funds for Bigvision Community, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young adults who are recovering from substance abuse.
Ronson Frank, of Uprising Promotions, told ESPN that another fighter suggested bringing in Carter-Williams, who Frank said "believed in the cause" and "wanted to be involved."
Moreover, Frank told ESPN that Carter-Williams may have more bouts in the future, depending on the outcome of this first one.
"He is very proud, athletic, and I believe he can excel as an amateur fighter," Frank said. "If he decides to go pro, that's a whole different ballgame. You have to be a top-notch athlete to succeed in the NBA, and if he has that same dedication to boxing, along with his natural athletic ability, he has the potential to do well."
After leading the Syracuse Orange to the Final Four as a sophomore in 2013, Carter-Williams was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-5 point guard averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds and was named the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year.
However, that was the pinnacle for Carter-Williams, as the 76ers traded him to Milwaukee the following year, the first of five stops in the next six years. He spent his last four seasons with the Orlando Magic, playing his final game in April 2023.
Carter-Williams officially announced his retirement in October 2024, concluding a career in which he averaged 10.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds.
Carter-Williams did play for the Mexico City Capitanes of the G League in late 2023 but left for personal reasons. Since January 2025, he has worked as a men's college basketball studio and game analyst for ESPN.
