PARIS _ Marvin Williams is in an enviable situation.
The 15-year pro and No. 2 overall selection in the 2005 draft is one of two lottery picks from that year that are still playing in the NBA, along with Oklahoma City's Chris Paul. His career earnings are north of $110 million and he's still playing basketball "because I still enjoy it;" he's doesn't need to draw an NBA paycheck to be financially sound.
But how much time does he have left in the league?
"I'll be honest with you, I've certainly thought about being done," Williams, the Charlotte Hornets' power forward, told the Observer on Tuesday.
"I feel like that's where I am right now: I could do it or I could not."
His body hasn't broken down over 1,050 NBA games, and until this season, he was consistently a starter. While his contract with the Hornets ($15 million salary this season) expires in July, he'll have options: Scouts from other teams frequently ask me about him as a mentor/locker room presence/bench guy next season.
An offer could lure him back for the 2020-21 season, but Williams, 33, has given abundant thought to what's beyond playing. This trip to Paris for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks factors into that: Williams would like a second career in basketball, but has no interest in coaching. He's already done groundwork toward a role in international basketball, doing a summer internship with the NBA office a couple of years ago.
"I was in New York, but focused on the international basketball operations part of it," Williams said. "I like the Junior NBA (program) where you are basically a camp counselor all around the world. Basketball Without Borders (the league's global summer outreach), I've done a couple of those: I went to Africa and I went to Indonesia.
"Any opportunity I get to travel and work with kids? That's what I would love to do."
