• Euroleague This is the playoffs

In the summer of 2021, Nigel Williams-Goss was the point guard "who wanted all of Europe". These are the words of the one who signed him, Pablo Laso, but they are corroborated by the decision that the American had to make those days. Among the multitude of juicy offers after his great season at Lokomotiv Kuban stood out those of Real Madrid and Barça. He ended up choosing white, although in these two seasons, for one reason or another, he has never been able to develop his full potential. When on Tuesday he sentenced Partizan with a triple with 30 seconds left to freeze the hell of the Stark Arena it was a kind of liberation for who was so much in question.

Williams-Goss's night was round against, precisely, the team with which he debuted in Europe in 2017: 22 points in 23 minutes, three triples and two steals that showed one of his virtues, his physical capacity in defense. In the statements after the Euroleague he was seen excited. Injuries have torpedoed his performance. And, two years after arriving in Madrid and permanently hearing that the team – both Laso's and Chus Mateo's – had a problem in the position of director, he ends his contract and there is still no conversation with the club for his possible renewal, as this newspaper has been able to know.

Find out more

Euroleague.

A hulking Tavares extinguishes Belgrade's hell

  • Writing: LUCAS SÁEZ-BRAVO

A hulking Tavares extinguishes Belgrade's hell

When Real Madrid announced the signing of Williams-Goss, he completed a lustrous trio of directors with Thomas Heurtel and Carlos Alocén. No one would have predicted that precisely the base post was going to be Laso's big headache. Nigel, NBA experience in the Jazz, was soon shipwrecked. Campazzo's shadow was long and in addition, a kind of curse weighed on him, that of the American base at Real Madrid. In one of the moments of truth last season, the quarterfinals against Maccabi, with Heurtel sidelined and Alocén injured, his time seemed to come. But soon after, injuries again: in the Euroleague semifinal he stepped on Exum at 52 seconds and the Final Four and the rest of the season was over for him.

Then Madrid came from carat bases and Williams-Goss had taken over from those who set the pace of the best club in Europe. In the golden books, Ramos, Cabrera, Corbalán... In recent times, Sergio Rodriguez, Campazzo, Doncic... Meanwhile, never shone a conductor of American origin, from where so many white legends did arrive (from Wayne Hightower to Jaycee Carroll, through Clifford Luyk, Brabender ...). That Michael Anderson, with whom he bears a curious resemblance -that wristband-, triumphed more in his later stage in the ACB than in his year at Real Madrid. For some time now, only Dontaye Draper, in a secondary position, did not fail. And Elmer Bennett's brief stint is saved. Everything else until the penultimate (Chasson Randle), ruin.

Goss, after scoring the decisive triple. ANDREJ CUKICEFE

With that curse played Williams-Goss, NCAA pedigree in Gonzaga and experience in Europe. At Olympiacos he played his best game... precisely against Madrid and then, at Lokomotiv he continued to attract attention. After those ups and downs last year – Laso's decision not to have him for the semifinals and the Cup final seemed to end his morale – this season he did not seem to raise his head because of various physical problems. And, again, all the criticisms of that position to which Hanga adapted at forced marches.

"It was an exciting match decided in the last moments with that Williams-Goss shot. He's playing a sensational season. He has had injuries but whenever he is available he shows his potential," Mateo praised. Nigel knows that his future is at stake and that this Thursday he has another test against Partizan. He is happy in Madrid, integrated into the city where his second child will soon be born. And although there are several teams that have already asked about his situation, he wants to wait for Real Madrid. However, in the white club, at the moment, they are focused on the return of Facundo Campazzo.

  • Real Madrid
  • Pablo Laso Biurrún

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Learn more