A season-ending injury can be the sort of thing that can have a younger player down in the dumps as they sort through the emotions such a situation can elicit. But for Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, the show must go on, as the Florida State alum leaned into using his platform to effect change in the local community.
Williams put on a gala to launch his eponymous “Patrick Williams Foundation” on Thursday evening of this week, and we hear it went swimmingly. But what is his foundation about, what does it hope to to, and how did he get it off the ground?
The Bulls Wire linked up with the Charlotte native to talk it over just before the gala kicked off; let’s take a look at how the Patrick Williams Foundation came to be, and what it plans to do. But first, we dove into Williams’ situation with the Bulls.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Patrick Williams shares thoughts on long-term future with Bulls https://t.co/Hc4mkMc9cv pic.twitter.com/8j3U375UaM
— Bulls Wire (@Bulls_Wire) November 7, 2023
The Bulls have been hit hard by injury, but Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu have made leaps with the opportunities they’ve had. When you are at full health, you’ll need to rebalance contributions. How does process happen?
I think I’m starting to now see — especially for the younger guys — to really start understanding just how good you are in this league. I know I felt that, Ayo is trying to feel it now, Coby White’s been feeling it. It’s just what you bring to the game — I think it’s always positive.
And in that sense, to get the confidence and get that experience, which is something that a lot of the young guys lack.
Bulls provide inside look at development of Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu https://t.co/4yT7VPqQ8I pic.twitter.com/y2iSKQOE9h
— Bulls Wire (@Bulls_Wire) March 1, 2024
So in that sense, I think it’s great for us to get experience a lot of late game situations that everybody was healthy, we might not have been in. On ball experience, pick and roll or a drag screen, or an ISO situation, being able to get more experience and learn from those experiences — I think that’s only going to make us better.
When everybody comes back, I think we have so much talent on the team, it doesn’t allow everybody to really blossom into who they are as a person and as a player.
But when you do that, and the team comes back, I think everybody keeps that same confidence level, that same confidence. And their skill, what they bring to the game, which they might not have been able to experience before. So, I think it’s only going to make that much better.
Onurlap Bitim discusses teammate support in Bulls win over Cavaliers https://t.co/JQZqC6wQJ5 pic.twitter.com/NMq199PEvi
— Bulls Wire (@Bulls_Wire) February 29, 2024
Speaking of guys who are getting more opportunity, Chicago has leaned into player development as a team this season. Tell me about Adama Sanogo and Onuralp Bitim, and how they have looked with the Bulls this season.
I think — especially two way players that may not be getting as much playing time as they would like — it’s competitive as everybody wants to play 48 minutes of the game. But I think both of those guys have done a great job of staying ready.
To (Bitim’s) point I think yesterday, seeing how talented he is, the kind of person that he is, the kind of grit that he has. And you see that from him on a day-to-day basis. He comes in, asks questions when he’s playing or not. Whether he’s in the reps or practice or not, he’s always engaged, always asks questions.
Anytime you have anything to tell him, you can tell he’s all ears. He wants to listen to us, to learn. We have a guy like that, he’s going to put in the work and also, he’s curious in it. He’s looking to grow, it’s only going to work out for him. It’s only a matter of time before it works out for him.
Onuralp Bitim could provide some magic during Bulls final stretch https://t.co/y4bwLMguG9 pic.twitter.com/LoYRX42dvb
— Bulls Wire (@Bulls_Wire) March 2, 2024
Adama’s the same way; he really keeps to himself. He doesn’t really speak much, but he’s always in the gym, the first one in the gym. He’ll get his work, and he stays after practice gets this work in, watching film. (Sanogo’s) learning the game; that’s the first step that you have to take to get into the NBA, understanding it’s a different game.
It’s got more talent, more physicality. The floor is different, the game is different at this level.
So, I think the first thing you have to do is learn the game through watching, then also be curious and just be a sponge to people that you have around you. I think both those guys have done a great job.
Pretty cool moment pregame for Adama Sanogo as he received his national championship ring from Andre Drummond, who also went to UConn pic.twitter.com/Hxq8xe5IwI
— Scotty White (@scottywhite_) February 28, 2024
How’s the foot healing up?
“It’s coming along. It’s killing me that I can’t play after some of the games we’ve had, some losses we’ve had. Also, (after tough a win) last night, just how fun it is. Being in the (United Center), feeling the crowd and being around, you just want to be in those moments. But for me, my mindset is fully getting healthy for next season, healthy and ready.
You’re originally from Charlotte, right? What’s the hoops scene like there?
The call North Carolina the hoop state, so yeah, it’s a very competitive conference that I was in, they have so many players going (to Division I colleges), and it’s just ultra competitive. You know what I mean?
It’s not a lot of hype that surrounds us. It’s more of what you produce. That’s, that’s how you get your hype. We don’t care about followers, we don’t care about Instagram, Twitter, or how much hype you have. You have to … play. I think that’s the kind of the culture that I come from. That’s the kind of culture, the mindset that I have approaching the game. So for me, it’s that has been everything that’s shaped me to be a basketball player I am today.
Patrick Williams missing the rest of the Chicago Bulls' season is just brutal https://t.co/LOdihLBBYK pic.twitter.com/QwM4pr8vbP
— Bulls Wire (@Bulls_Wire) February 28, 2024
Did you ever cross paths with Grant Williams, or Kemba Walker while you were there?
So Grant Williams, he’s like a big brother. I’ve been around him pretty much all my life. I have older brothers too, that played with or against him for the majority of their lives, so I’m real close with him. I know his family really well. His mom, his dad. I know him extremely well.
Kemba Walker, I came across him later in my high school career … Charlotte, is kind of a big (city), but the basketball scene is really close-knit, a really tight family atmosphere. If you know one person know, he knows 10 other people. That’s the feel that it has.
I’ve noticed you and Grant share a strong interest in using your platforms to make the world better than when you found it. In fact, that’s a big impetus for this interview. You are holding an event today, for your ‘Boss Up Gala’. Tell us what that is about.
It came about last year, I wanted to do something with my platform, as you spoke on. Obviously, being an NBA players is a dream come true. But then you start to look around (and ask), ‘How can I help the community I come from, the community that I’m in now, to be a difference maker?’
For me, it was a no-brainer. My mom’s a female business owner. She owns a flower shop back home and seeing the things that she went through, but also the impact that she had on the community back home (moved me). Also, my dad did a lot and in the community as well, seeing them always give back.
So anywhere I can, I want to be able to give back to business owners, and give them an even platform. My mom went through so much starting up her business on her own, not having the resources that she should have had. I’ve seen her work through it, and I want to be able to help anybody in her position, and in other positions as well.
#PatrickWilliams recently hosted his first "Shark Tank" style event for two #Chicago entrepreneurs needing assistance for their businesses. Both women presented to Patrick & a panel of judges for a chance to receive a grant. The winner will be announced at Patrick's gala on 2/29. pic.twitter.com/qAMld95R5J
— The Patrick Williams Foundation (@pwilliamsfdn) February 15, 2024
One of the things that caught my attention when I was looking around was that you’ve done some Shark Tank style events with local entrepreneurs. Tell me about that.
We had two women entrepreneurs come in and tell their story and how they got started. Some businesses that they’re a part of — their visions, their goals.
Tonight, we’re going to be giving away a grant to one of those businesses and helping them get the resources that they need. Or whatever they want to do with the money, just be able to get in touch with the community.
That was the goal behind that. I think women in entrepreneurship is something that is so important to the community … that’s what I was trying to get behind, excited to do my part to help these young women.
I also cover the Boston Celtics, who take a similar approach to community support as your foundation does as a team and as players. Have you ever considered following in Jaylen Brown’s footsteps as a VP in the Players Association (PA), or to work with your foundation?
Not in terms of the VP side. But in terms of starting a foundation, having an idea of what you want to do, and not really knowing how to do it, I think the PA … have done a great job of saying, ‘We have a resource for that’, or ‘We can help with that.’
I think a lot of players don’t really understand the power that the PA has, or the resources that the PA has, because they have so many. They can help you do a lot. So, for me, I just started learning to tap into a lot of resources that they have. And they have so many more that I have yet to experience. Let’s take advantage of that!
Next Thursday, February 29th, #PatrickWilliams is hosting his Inaugural #BossUpGala to raise funds for local minority entrepreneurs and their small businesses in Chicago. Join Patrick and his @chicagobulls teammates at this exciting event by going to https://t.co/v9sRPBstsw. pic.twitter.com/vircLAm41g
— The Patrick Williams Foundation (@pwilliamsfdn) February 19, 2024
Do you and Grant (or other people) talk about how to leverage these resources? How does one get started with making a foundation?
I think that’s why a lot of players are hesitant to start with if they don’t know much about it. I can speak for myself, but brought up basketball was the only thing. So now you got to kind of have to turn it in mind to the business side and political side. It’s an uncharted territory.
That’s when you have to rely on people that do have the resource, the people that do have the experience, and a lot of time just going out and getting help. Knowing that you can’t do it (alone), reaching out to people who have done it before. Whether it’s a player or whether it’s a business that have worked with players before, whether it’s the PA.
I think the PA also does a great job of understanding if they have the resource. Or if they don’t, they know how to get in touch with somebody who does. It all starts with first having a having the mind to want to do it. But then it’s just reaching out to see if we can help.
Let’s do a few lighter questions before we get you out of here. For your personal MVP list, where — or is — Jayson Tatum on it?
My top five?
Yeah.
I think so many people are playing well now. Jayson Tatum is definitely on that list. I don’t know if I can break it down to five, just because so many are playing well. Obviously, the rule change (for games needed to be played to qualify) helps me narrow it down a little more.
But Tatum is on that list, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he wins it.
What about the other big award race of the year, Rookie of the Year? Who wins it — Victor Wembanyama or Chet Holmgren?
I think I like to reward winning (alluding to Holmgren); I’m not saying he’s the best, I just think winning should set the rules.
Anything else we didn’t get a chance to cover about your foundation, or anything else?
Just that these are the first of many opportunities that I want to take advantage of, the first of many things I want to do through this foundation.
I’ll be keeping an eye out to see how it goes — good luck!
Thanks.
