Kirk Williams Jr. is a 6’6″ shooting guard from the University of Bridgeport. And during his time in the National Basketball League of Canada, he played 256 games for several teams between 2012 and 2023. He amassed 3,031 regular season points (4th overall in league history), an 11.8 points per game scoring average. He was on several postseason teams as well, earning championship rings with the Windsor Express and the London Lightning. During the 2013-14 NBL Canada season, he was voted the league’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Or maybe it would be easier if I just showed you some highlight clips. So I’ll do that.
Kirk Williams Jr. had a ton of classic contests against a bevy of opponents.
But his current battle isn’t on the court.
It’s in the hospital.
I’m quoting here from a recent GoFundMe. And if I’m quoting from a GoFundMe, you know it isn’t a financial request to subsidize” a new roof or a family vacation.
“Hello! My name is Olivia Murray and I’m fundraising for our longtime friend and former teammate, Kirk Williams Jr., who has just received the devastating news that he has DLBCL; an aggressive non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.”
This is not good. DLBCL is shorthand for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Over 18,000 people are diagnosed witht this form of cancer every year. Here’s a YouTube clip that will explain what Kirk Williams Jr. now faces.
Now you might think that since Kirk Williams Jr. has lived in Canada for the past decade or so, he should be able to access Canada’s excellent medical coverage and insurance. Nope. Technically, Kirk is still an American, even though he has applied for Canadian citizenship and has married a Canadian woman. So the cost of chemotherapy and other medications have to come out of his pocket. Hence, the GoFundMe.
“Kirk is one of the strongest, most charismatic, people many of us know — for years he’s used his physical abilities to provide for his family from entertaining basketball fans to building up a successful post construction cleaning company after retirement. Both on and off the court, Kirk has always shown up for those around him. He has always been there for friends, family and teammates in times of need and now it’s our turn to show up for him, April and their young children in this battle.”
There have been updates on the GoFundMe page, noting that Kirk underwent both a PET scan and ultrasound last week. The next steps will be with his oncology team and his family. And hopefully with the fans who have enjoyed his dedication on the basketball floor.
Any donations you can share, no matter how small or large, to this GoFundMe page will help Kirk Williams Jr. progress in the fight of his life.
He was once the Sixth Man of a professional basketball league.
Let’s now be HIS Sixth Man.
Chuck The Writer 