Corliss Williamson
NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2001–02) and 2003–04 NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons.
Corliss Williamson joined the Detroit Pistons after being traded from the Toronto Raptors alongside Kornel David, Tyrone Corbin, and a 2005 first-round draft choice. In the 2001–02 season, he was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, serving a pivotal role in the offense. His coaches often looked to him in the low post where his unique skill set made him a difficult matchup; he was too powerful for small forwards to guard and too quick for power forwards. Williamson eventually became a member of the Pistons' 2003–04 NBA Championship team, adding an NBA title to his collection that already included an AAU championship and an NCAA title with Arkansas.
- Draft Year
- 1995
- Position
- Power Forward / Small Forward
- College
- Arkansas
- Tenure End
- 2004
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Williamson arrived in Detroit via a trade package that included Doug Christie going to Toronto. He was not drafted by the Pistons but joined them after stints with the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors. His time in Detroit became the highlight of his playing career, specifically the 2001–02 season where he won Sixth Man of the Year. Although he came off the bench, his ability to score in the post was a critical weapon for the team's offense. This unique skill set allowed him to exploit mismatches against both smaller and larger defenders. His contributions were essential to the Pistons' success, culminating in the 2003–04 NBA Championship. Williamson holds the distinction of winning championships at three different levels: AAU, NCAA with Arkansas, and now the NBA with Detroit.
In Their Own Story
The trade that brought Williamson to Detroit involved sending Kornel David, Tyrone Corbin, and a future first-round pick to Toronto in exchange for Jerome Williams and Eric Montross. Once in Detroit, he found his rhythm as a Sixth Man. In the 2001–02 season, his scoring from the bench earned him the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award. His coaches relied on him specifically when they needed a basket, utilizing his power against small forwards and his speed against power forwards. This pivotal role continued until he was part of the roster that won the 2003–04 NBA Championship. The journey to that title included his earlier trade from Sacramento and Toronto, but it was in Detroit where he cemented his legacy as a champion.
Reader's Guide
Corliss Williamson played for the Pistons after being traded from the Raptors in a deal involving Jerome Williams and Eric Montross. He served as an assistant coach on the 2003–04 championship team, though his primary role was as a key bench player during that run. His career in Detroit is defined by winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2001–02 and capturing the NBA title two seasons later. He played an undersized power forward role but mostly operated at small forward in the league, contrasting with his dominating college presence at Arkansas as a power forward. His time with the Pistons ended when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on August 8, 2004, along with cash for Derrick Coleman and Amal McCaskill.
Did You Know?
- Williamson won championships at three different levels: AAU, NCAA (with Arkansas), and the NBA (with Detroit).
- He was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in the 2001–02 season.
- His nickname 'Big Nasty' was given to him by his AAU coach when he was just 13 years old.
- In high school, he blocked a potential game-winning shot by Jason Kidd at the buzzer to lead Russellville High to the King Cotton Classic championship.