Retired NBA Guard Reflects On Epic Debut Against LeBron James

Retired NBA guard Michael Carter-Williams played 395 games with the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. He exploded into the league in his very first game when he recorded a double-double against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in 2013.

Carter-Williams described the out-of-body debut when he joined George Balekji on the latest episode of NESN’s “Hold My Banner.”

“I didn’t know what to expect. I was just going in there and just flowing,” Carter-Williams told Balekji. “Obviously, it turned out real well. … I just wanted to win the game. The game started getting fun. It was getting close. The crowd was going crazy. We were in the city of Philadelphia against the champs the year before. My parents are in the crowd. They’re sitting courtside. It was a night I will never forget.”

Drafted 11th overall by Philadelphia in 2013, Carter-Williams scored 22 points, added 12 assists and collected seven rebounds and nine steals against the Heat in his 76ers debut. He continued to have a successful season and earned Rookie of the Year honors in the 2013-2014 season.

“I had the ball in my hands a lot,” Carter-Williams said of his rookie campaign. “I was able to be successful on the floor. It was great. It was a competitive thing trying to win Rookie of the Year. I remember this was just a goal of mine that I wanted since I got drafted.”

To hear more from Carter-Williams, you can catch the segment on YouTube and Spotify.