Yorick is in love with basketball (and the Leicester Riders) again

There was one man sporting a bigger smile than most following the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 88-71 win over the Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions on Saturday.

For Yorick Williams, the emphatic nature of the victory over his former team was a positive end to a week which saw the BBL suspend him for a game following an altercation during a March 9th game against the Newcastle Eagles. And his delight was there for all to see.

“This is probably the first time in four years I’ve enjoyed playing basketball,” a beaming Williams said. “It’s fun to play with these guys. There’s no ego. We come to practice, we work hard at practice, everybody’s got the same goal. The coach is amazing, he knows how to read his players to get the best out of his players. For me it’s easy to play basketball with these guys.”

The cheshire grin stretching across William’s face alone, tells me that his words are from the heart. He has taken well to his role of veteran leader with the Riders, placing a fatherly arm around those who need instruction, whilst being the first to stand and applaud his team-mates for a well executed play. He is the wise head on young shoulders and with it, he’s hoping to take his team to the next level.

“I think that the calibre of team that we are showed tonight on the basketball court,” Williams said with pride. “I talked to the guys before the game, I talked to them all week at practice about how if we’re going to take it to the next level as far as European teams; you maintain a lead. It’s not always about 100mph basketball, it’s about playing basketball smart, it’s about playing basketball for 94 feet and just worrying about our game plan. We did that tonight and I’m proud of the guys.”