Mikey Williams admitted feeling a bit anxious as to where he'll end up during the recent PBA Rookie Draft, especially after TNT acquired NLEX’s No. 4 pick and rumors swirling that NorthPort may opt for the 6-foot-2 as its second overall selection.
Williams ended up getting selected by the Tropang Giga with that aforementioned fourth pick, but that came after the NLEX Road Warriors opted to give up the chance to choose the former NBA G League and ASEAN Basketball League player through a three-way trade which also involved the Blackwater Elite.
The Fil-American guard said the trade somewhat surprised him since he already conditioned himself joining the NLEX franchise.
“I'm just like I didn’t know they would do that, you know. That was just a big move from them. I was already set on going with NLEX and I was just like ‘I’m alright, I’m going to NLEX.’ It’s okay,” he said during his interview in former University of the Philippines guard Mikee Reyes’ podcast.
But Williams’ destination became somewhat uncertain in the hours before the Draft with rumblings that NorthPort will go with him instead of taking 6-foot-6 former La Salle standout Jamie Malonzo.
NorthPort, however, stuck with its original plan and took Malonzo as the second overall selection, perhaps leaving TNT with a sigh of relief since having Williams will help fill the void left by Ray Parks Jr., who decided to skip the upcoming season.
“I was nervous about that too. I had a lot of old friends in my ear, texting me like ‘Bro, you might go to NorthPort,’” said Williams, who added that he wasn’t convinced that NorthPort was already sold on changing its plans.
“I’m like nah. I just think it’s a little curveball to throw around and make people think that this is gonna happen, but it’s not gonna happen. If it did, it did, if it didn't, it didn’t. But I’m glad the situation is TNT. It’s the best possible situation for me.”
Williams will get plenty of opportunities to learn from returning coach Chot Reyes and team captain Jayson Castro, who is expected to share the backcourt with TNT’s newest guard.