Name: Deron Williams

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: Point Guard

NBA Statistics: 19 (points), 9.5 (assists), 3.9 (rebounds)

Background: “Anything that doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” is the life motto of one of NBA’s most talented passers as present. Drafted into the league as the third overall pick at the beginning of the 2005-2006 season by the Utah Jazz, Williams has pleasingly showed impressive improvement in his trade.

Jazz’s acquisition of the “solid point guard”, as stated by Bruce Bowen, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, was to proven efficient as in his second season the Utah Jazz made an unbelievable run to the 2006-2007 Western Conference Finals.

That season Williams helped them to break their three-year drought from the play-offs in addition to a seven-year drought from a play-off series win with came against the Houston Rockets. The Karl Malone/John Stockton era was the last time any of these two feats were achieved.

His statistics improved yet again the following season, averaging 18.8 points and 10.5 assists, which was bettered by his draft-mate and rival Chris Paul and Steve Nash. He was not voted by the fans to be a member of the Western Conference All-Star Team, but he put it behind him by claiming the 2008 All-Star Skills Challenge. Though he missed out on the All-Star line-up again, 2009 was also a huge year for him as he joined the passing guru Steve Nash as the only active player to have four or more games in which they recorded 20+ assists.

This season, however, Deron was not to be denied as he has claimed a place among the All-Star reserves and with his team on an impressive five-gaming winning streak at present things are looking bright.

An interesting fact to note is that Deron Williams is a two-time junior state champion in wrestling.