Former NBA ROY Michael Carter-Williams Wins Amateur Boxing Debut by Decision

Michael Carter-Williams, the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year, had a successful debut in his new career as a boxer.

The nine-year NBA veteran defeated Sam Khatib via decision in a three-round amateur heavyweight fight at the Broad Street Brawl event in New York on Thursday.

The bout was part of a charity event that raised money for Bigvision Community, which supports young adults recovering from substance use and abuse.

On the May 21 episode of The Ariel Helwani Show (h/t Drake Riggs of Uncrowned), Carter-Williams explained his boxing fandom gave him the desire to step into the ring.

"I think it's just to scratch that itch," Carter-Williams said. "I've been competing my whole life, and that's something I want to do. I want to continue to compete. I respect the sport. I'm a big fan. I watch a lot. I've got a lot of friends that fight."

Carter-Williams also said in the interview with Helwani that he's open to continuing his boxing career beyond the one amateur bout, but wanted to see how this one would go before committing to anything:

"I don't know where it's going to take me or where it's going to lead me. I know that there's an avenue for people, who played professional sports, who enter the boxing ring. There's a lane there. I don't know, I'm kind of taking it one step at a time. It's one of those things I definitely want to keep getting better at. I've thought about [the influencer angle]. I want to get this under my belt and go from there."

Now 33 years old, Carter-Williams was a first-round pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013 NBA draft. He was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 70 starts.

Carter-Williams played a total of nine seasons in the NBA with six different teams, as well as a brief stint with the G League's Mexico City Capitanes in 2023.