Former three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams is reportedly going to fight on the Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury Showtime pay-per-view card on December 18, according to NBA reporter Shams Charania.
Williams, now 37, last played in the NBA in the 2016-17 season, which he split between the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. His peak years came with the Utah Jazz, and he also played for the Brooklyn Nets (and also the New Jersey Nets, since we’re being thorough).
Charania says that one possible opponent for Williams could be currently-former NFL running back Frank Gore, who has expressed interest in doing boxing and has trained for years.
Historically, NBA players fighting on cards that feature Jake Paul have not done well, but Williams won’t actually have to fight as devastating a professional boxer as Jake himself, so that’s the good news for him.
It’s worth noting that Williams has trained some, at least in mixed martial arts, and if you combine training in MMA with being a former star athlete from a non-combat sport, that pretty much qualifies you for a pay-per-view boxing match in 2021.