Amari Williams is officially heading to the NBA — and the way it happened was anything but typical.
The former Kentucky forward was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday night, taken with the No. 46 overall pick by the Orlando Magic. But in a surprising twist, Williams was reportedly traded to the Boston Celtics before the selection was even announced.
The 6-foot-10 big man took an unconventional path to this moment. After spending four years dominating in the CAA at Drexel, Williams transferred to Kentucky for his final season, joining Mark Pope’s first roster in Lexington. While expectations were modest, Williams quickly earned his spot with elite rim protection, relentless rebounding, and veteran toughness that helped stabilize the Wildcats’ frontcourt.
Despite flying under the radar on most major draft boards, Williams’ maturity and defensive versatility caught the attention of scouts — especially teams looking for a ready-made role player. The Celtics, it seems, saw something special.
Even though Kentucky didn’t produce a first-round pick this year, Williams’ name being called continues the program’s proud NBA Draft tradition. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all you need is one season at UK to turn heads at the next level.
Meanwhile, the UK basketball program recently made headlines for a different reason — hosting a youth camp at North Laurel High School on June 20. Head coach Mark Pope spoke about the value of giving back to communities across the state and inspiring young athletes through events like these.
As for Williams, he’ll now begin his professional journey in Boston — and given how his story has gone so far, don’t be surprised if he keeps proving people wrong.
