Seven countries, one world tour - Williams eyes quadruple

A decade ago, Bath-born Deane Williams was just finishing his first year as a freshman at Augusta University, with the dream of forging a professional basketball career.

Following four years in Georgia, Williams embarked on a world tour and, after ball-playing stops in Iceland, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, he is back on home soil.

Now 29, Williams is one game away from concluding his maiden season with the London Lions with a domestic quadruple under his belt.

"It's been fantastic," Williams told BBC Sport.

"Just being able to have such a great season in front of friends and family, alongside great team-mates, great coaching staff - it's just been an absolute joy.

"We've done a three-peat so far, so it's been an extremely successful season, we're looking to finish strong on Sunday."

The Lions won the Super League Basketball Championship title with victories in 26 of their 32 regular-season games, finishing 12 points clear at the top.

In February, the Lions won the first of their three honours already claimed this season with a 74-68 win over Newcastle Eagles in the final of the SLB Trophy.

A month later, they claimed more silverware by beating Manchester Basketball 83-74 to win the SLB Cup.

While the league title is wrapped up, the post-season play-offs conclude at the O2 Arena on Sunday, with the Lions facing league runners-up Cheshire Phoenix for a clean sweep of domestic trophies.

To most, the journey from Bath to London is just an 115-mile dart up the M4.

But for Williams it has been a pilgrimage of well over 10,000 miles, taking him to finish his studies in America and back home to England via multiple stops across Europe.

Like many aspiring British basketball players, Williams had to make the tricky decision to move across the Atlantic as a teenager to study for four years in Augusta, a city steeped in sporting tradition more associated with plush golf courses and green jackets.

But with the landscape of British domestic basketball, as well as following the offer of a college scholarship, Williams' move was one of necessity rather than a dream.

"If it was up to me, I would have played in the UK for as long as I could," Williams says.

"Nobody really wants to have to flock the nest to try and make a living, when they can do it at home just as good."

But the perks of being back in the UK permanently for the first season since leaving for college mean Williams is able to attend the day-to-day events that 10 years abroad prevented.

"You don't have to miss all the birthdays, you don't have to miss weddings, you don't have to miss funerals, all of these sort of occasions that you miss out on," adds Williams.

"[Now], you can be there because you're already at home."

Despite years away from home comforts, Williams has performed well in terms of success across Europe.

The power forward was named foreign player of the year in Iceland's top flight during the second of his two years with Keflavik - immediately after graduating from college, where he left as the Peach Belt Conference's co-Player of the Year.

In 2023, Williams won the Champions League with German outfit Telekom Baskets Bonn, during his sole campaign there. He has also had spells with Saint-Quentin, Baskets Oldenburg, Napoli Basket, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and most recently, Anwil Wloclawek.

"It's hard finishing college and, if basketball was what you want to pursue as a British player, you're not going to look at the British league and [say], 'that's where I want to go to try and build my legacy'," he explains.

"You've got to do it kind of in reverse order. But I really do wish and hope that in the future this is somewhere that guys can look and think 'the British League is a respected league, it's somewhere I can make a name for myself'."

While it has been a long journey to get to the Lions, Williams has more than made his mark for a side coached by Tautvydas Sabonis, who himself comes from a rich dynasty of basketball heritage.

Williams has certainly impressed in his debut season back on home territory. As well as making the second-most appearances for the Lions this season across domestic competitions, Williams also was named in both the SLB Team of the Year and Defensive Team of the Year.

He has also made his debut for Great Britain, winning his first two caps earlier this year.

While eyeing further success both on Sunday and beyond, Williams is hoping to improve the overall quality of basketball across Britain so that aspiring young players do not have to follow in his footsteps in order to make their dreams a reality.

"I think it's just to continue to not only inspire the youth but inspire those that don't see maybe a long-term goal within British basketball," Williams explains.

"It's not only us as players, but us as an organisation are trying to push the boundaries to show that we are capable of doing great things on the international stage. With that comes growing the game in our country, so that the younger generation can aspire to play it and they don't have to leave home.

"I'm not trying to say in a big-headed way like 'we're the best' but we're trying to be the best. Not for us, but for everyone."