
Imago
Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nate Williams (19) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Imago
Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nate Williams (19) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Imago
Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nate Williams (19) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Imago
Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nate Williams (19) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Essentials Inside The Story
- Nate Williams lands a new opportunity with the Golden State Warriors
- His path bounced between teams, contracts, and call-ups
- Williams' journey from overlooked prospect to two-way deal hints at a bigger story still unfolding
The life of an undrafted hooper in the big leagues is one of adversity, hard work, and a whole lot of self-belief. These traits are exactly what defines American shooting guard and the latest Golden State Warriors acquisition, Nate Williams. The journeyman wing is entering his third season in the league, having spent the majority of his time in the G-League with multiple teams. Let’s take a deep dive into his ethnic background, religious beliefs, and his basketball journey up until now.
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As per NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors have opted to bring in Williams on a two-way contract from the Long Island Nets. He will step in to fill the vacant spot left by Pat Spencer, who was promoted to a standard NBA deal earlier this month. This move adds further coverage on the depth chart as Stephen Curry steps up his recovery from a patellofemoral pain syndrome issue.
Birthday Buckets🎂
Nate Williams leads all scorers with 30 points on his 27th birthday 🎊 pic.twitter.com/2MT6N9ttF8— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) February 12, 2026
Williams has been in prolific form in the G-League this season. He is averaging 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game for the Long Island Nets in 22 games. This move will offer him another chance to earn more minutes in the big leagues, having already spent time with the Salt Lake City Stars and Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the past.
The 27-year-old has also featured briefly in the NBA, making his debut in 2023 for the Portland Trail Blazers. In doing so, he became the first Buffalo graduate to play in the NBA in 40 years, since Samuel Troy Pellom. However, he was waived by Portland in July before he signed for the Houston Rockets on a two-way deal in August of 2023.
Williams made a total of 42 appearances for Houston between 2023-25, averaging three points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. He was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers in September 2025 but was quickly waived before the start of the regular season in October. He’s been with the Long Island Nets ever since and was arguably their most dangerous player on offense this season.
Where Is Nate Williams From? What’s His Nationality?
Nate Williams, a.k.a. Jeenathan Williams, was born on February 12, 1999, in Rochester. He is an American citizen, having ties and connections to the city of New York, where he was born and raised.
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As a kid, Williams spent his days playing basketball in his neighborhood.
What Is Nate Williams’ Ethnicity and Religion?
Nate Williams is an American with African heritage and ancestry. There is no official confirmation of his religious beliefs on public platforms. Based on his birthplace and ethnic roots, Williams most likely has Jamaican ancestry. Considering the average demographic in NY, one can assume that Williams is a practicing Christian.
Which High School Did Nate Williams Attend?
Williams played high school basketball at University Prep Charter in NY, where he starred as a junior. He made a name for himself, averaging 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. In his senior year, he transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, to continue his development.
He averaged 15.8 points per game in his senior year, competing in the AAU circuit along with the likes of Detroit Pistons star Isaiah Stewart and Oklahoma City Thunder SG and fellow G-League journeyman, Buddy Boeheim.
College scouts shortlisted Williams as a four-star recruit based on his performances at Prolific Prep. He reportedly had offers on the table from the likes of Virginia, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh. But Williams committed to the University of Buffalo and spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bulls men’s basketball team before going undrafted in 2022.

