Michael Carter-Williams is off to a great start in his second sporting career.
The 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year took down Sam Khatib in his amateur boxing debut on Thursday via unanimous decision in a three-round heavyweight contest at the Broad Street Brawl in New York.
The fight was part of a fundraiser for Bigvision Community, a non-profit organization that helps young adults recover from substance abuse.
During an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Carter-Williams, 33, said boxing was a way to get back into competitive sport.
“I think it’s just to scratch that itch,” Carter-Williams said. “I’ve been competing my whole life, and that’s something I want to do. I want to continue to compete. I respect the sport. I’m a big fan. I watch a lot. I’ve got a lot of friends that fight.”
Carter-Williams last played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season for the Magic, appearing in four games.
After being drafted No. 11 overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the 76ers, Carter-Williams played nine seasons in the league for six different teams.
The Syracuse product had an excellent rookie season in 13-14, but his career quickly went downhill from there, playing his last game in the league at just 31 years old.
After basketball, Carter-Williams said he’s taking his boxing career day by day for now.
“I don’t know where it’s going to take me or where it’s going to lead me,” Carter-Williams said on the podcast with Helwani. “I know that there’s an avenue for people, who played professional sports, who enter the boxing ring. There’s a lane there. I don’t know, I’m kind of taking it one step at a time.
“It’s one of those things I definitely want to keep getting better at.”
