Mark Williams is a 7-foot-1 athletic, shot-blocking, lob-catching center for the Phoenix Suns, drafted 15th in 2022 out of Duke, where he was ACC Defensive Player of the Year. An elite finisher (a career field-goal percentage above 60%) and rim protector, he starred in Charlotte before joining Phoenix in 2025; injury durability is the central question.
Model lines Williams at 11.7 pts (range 9–14.4) vs a 11.5 line — a lean to clear it (53%).
Model favors Philadelphia 76ers (63%), projected 113–116, ~228 total at 96.8 pace.
A 7-foot-1 athletic, lob-catching rim protector — efficient interior play for the Suns.
ACC Defensive Player of the Year at Duke, Williams was drafted 15th in 2022 by Charlotte.
He became a starting center — an athletic lob threat and rim protector.
A February 2025 Lakers trade was rescinded; he joined Phoenix in 2025.
An elite finisher and rebounder, his ceiling is tied to his health.
A 7-foot-1 athletic, lob-catching rim protector — efficient interior play for the Suns.
Mark Williams was born in Virginia and starred at Duke, winning 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and helping the Blue Devils reach the national championship game before Charlotte drafted him 15th in 2022. He established himself as a starting center — an athletic, shot-blocking lob threat.
An elite interior finisher (a career field-goal percentage above 60%) and offensive rebounder — he once grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in a game — he was acquired by Phoenix in 2025 after a February 2025 trade to the Lakers was rescinded. His ceiling is a starting-caliber two-way center, tied to his health.
Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.
Williams comes from an accomplished family — his father is a gastroenterologist, and his older sister Elizabeth played at Duke and was a top-five WNBA draft pick and professional. That basketball pedigree and academic background shaped a cerebral, efficient big man.
His on-court identity is athletic rim-running and shot-blocking — a true 7-foot-1 center who finishes lobs with power, protects the rim, and rebounds at an elite rate, all at a historic field-goal efficiency. His limited perimeter game keeps him near the basket, and durability has been his defining challenge; when healthy, he's a genuine two-way center for the Suns.
An athletic, lob-catching center — rim protection, elite finishing, and offensive rebounding.
Athletic, efficient interior play
Williams's value is athletic rim-running and shot-blocking — a true 7-foot-1 center who finishes lobs with power at a historic field-goal efficiency (above 60%), protects the rim, and rebounds elite (a 15-offensive-rebound game). That two-way interior profile makes him a starting-caliber center when available.
Health is the story
The defining variable is durability — a back injury limited him to 19 games one season, and a failed physical voided a 2025 trade. His talent as a two-way center is clear; his ceiling hinges on staying on the floor. For Phoenix, a healthy Williams is a genuine starting rim protector and lob threat next to its scoring guards.
Per game
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 60 | 23.6 | 11.7 | 8.0 | 1.0 | .644 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.
Where he sits in history
Hardware
An athletic, lob-catching rim protector — a starting-caliber center for the Suns, health permitting.
Williams joins Phoenix as a young, efficient two-way center whose ceiling is tied to health. An elite interior finisher (above 60% from the field), rim protector, and rebounder, he profiles as a starting-caliber lob threat and shot-blocker — durability being the central question.
Contract
A 7-foot-1 athletic, lob-catching rim protector and elite finisher — a starting-caliber two-way center for Phoenix whose ceiling is tied to staying healthy.
Athletic rim-running, shot-blocking, and elite finishing — a 7-foot-1 lob threat and ACC Defensive Player of the Year who finishes above 60% from the field.
Durability — injuries have limited him, including a back issue that cost most of a season and a failed physical that voided a 2025 trade.
Phoenix acquired him in June 2025, after a February 2025 trade to the Lakers was rescinded when he failed his physical.