Houston Rockets Convert Nate Williams to Two-Way Contract

The move came five days after Williams gave the Rockets a significant boost off the bench during their 117-103 preseason loss to the Spurs. He scored 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting while adding eight rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes inside the Frost Bank Center.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have converted Nate Williams to a two-way contract, a source told Inside the Rockets Monday afternoon. 

The move came five days after Williams gave the Rockets a significant boost off the bench during their 117-103 preseason loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting while adding eight rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes inside the Frost Bank Center.

"For me, it's all about playing well," Williams said. "I put in a ton of work all my life and this summer...It's all about playing the right way."

With the acquisition of Williams, the Rockets made additional roster changes ahead of the 2023-24 season. Houston waived Darius Days and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl before signing Williams. 

Days, who signed with the team a week before the start of the 2022-23 season, was one of three players who held a two-way contract. 

He spent most of last season assigned to the Rockets G League affiliate team, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors. In 29 regular season games for the Vipers, Days averaged 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.0 3-pointers made.

Rockets guard Nate Williams poses for a picture at Rockets media day at Toyota Center / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Robinson-Earl arrived in Houston following the trade that sent Kevin Porter Jr. to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite not playing for the Rockets, Robinson-Earl has averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in two seasons in Oklahoma City.

After beginning last season in the G League, Williams signed with Portland on April 1 and made his NBA debut the following day. Over the final five games of 2022-23, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the floor. 

In 32 G League games for the Salt Lake City Stars, Williams averaged 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 3-pointers made on 42.0 percent shooting.

"He is a natural and fluent scorer," coach Ime Udoka said. "He is a guy that gives us a burst. He can play with many different lineups. And since he has come in, he has been one of the better guys with our second and third unit."