By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Separated by two years from his last appearance in the NBA, Michael Carter-Williams is set for his first official boxing challenge.
On Sunday, the 33-year-old American combo guard talked to TMZ Sports about emerging as the latest former NBA player switching to boxing, similar to Nate Robinson, Deron Williams, Nick Young and Lamar Odom.
“We’ll see where it takes me, but I definitely want to fight,” he said, all but ruling out a return to basketball, “I definitely want to have fights.”
After training in the ring, he will complete his transition to boxing by facing amateur boxer Sam Khati on May 29. With proceeds going to charity, a three-round fight will be part of the Broad Street Brawl in New York’s Leman Ballroom.
“I know they’re going to come in and try and knock me out, so that’s what I’m doing,” the native of Hamilton, Massachusetts, described his approach to boxing.
Coming out of Syracuse in 2013, he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 11th pick of the NBA draft. In his first season, he was named Rookie of the Year. He was eventually slowed down by several injuries. Following his last NBA game, he bounced back in the G League and had a brief stint with the Mexico City Capitanes in 2023, before calling it a day in 2024.
Overall, he logged 411 NBA appearances spread from the Sixers to the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Houston Rockets.
