Kelly Williams was picked number one overall by the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the 2006 PBA Draft after playing four years of collegiate basketball at Oakland University in California.
"Machine Gun Kelly" proved that he deserved to be the top pick and blossomed into one of the best local players during his heyday, even winning Best Player of the Conference, an MVP award and a championship in the 2007-08 season.
After dealing with health issues in 2009, he was dealt a year later to the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals and has remained with the franchise ever since.
What's been your best conference so far in your PBA career?
My best conference ever was when I won Best Player of the Conference [in the 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup]. I played at a really high level, some great teammates around me. Really good coach in Boyet Fernandez who knew me and allowed me to play. So, I was really in pocket and comfort as a player. Those guys really made it easy for me to be able to play my game. That Philippine Cup was my most complete.
After my MVP, I had the health issues and maybe just before I got sick in 2009, maybe that first conference, the All-Filipino, I had a pretty good run again. I was playing at a pretty high level. But after that, it was really up and down. After the 2009 All-Star, when they changed up the format and had the national team play against the North and the South, I got sick. The conference, pretty much was up and down.
I didn't feel consistent in any other conferences after that. I never really felt like myself again. And so I had to find ways to adjust -- adjust to my body, adjust to my mentality, my approach to the game. I had a lot of things going on in my life off the court that really affected me on the court. And there were just a lot of adjustments over the years. It's been 11 years now.
Every year, every conference, I had to find ways to adjust to the changes and the climate of my life. It's no different to other players who have to go through things and people in general who go through their issues. But, for me, the key was trying to find ways to adjust and try to do and be efficient and effective on the court as I can, playing for those different teams.
How were you able to reinvent your game with Talk 'N Text -- from being the number one guy to becoming a role player?
It was a little easier, especially me when I was first trained under Coach Chot [Reyes] because that team with Jimmy [Alapag], JD [Jared Dillinger], Ali [Peek], just all those guys, we had so many guys that you really had to accept a role.
One more was sacrificing in order to make that thing work and the coaching staff really did a great job. Coach Chot did a great job of balancing us and helping us and teaching us the game from a mental aspect, as well as just understanding how to play together. And play the game the right way.
It was definitely an adjustment to not have the ball in my hands all the time, but it was a small price to pay when I look back and all the championships and the brotherhood and the relationships and just the type of team ball that we were able to experience with those guys.
The adjustments for me that made it a little bit harder was - because going from being a predominantly wing player, bringing the ball up, doing everything with the ball as one my strengths to being able to guard or stay in front of these imports and bigger guys - I kind of got stuck in that role with the following coaches after Chot, and I think that it started to hurt my career a little bit from a personal standpoint.
But also, the goal is being the player I am. That's just the kind of player I am. That's what the coach needs, regardless of how much I disagree. I don't really care to rock the boat so that's now my mentality and I was like 'yeah, I don't agree with how I am being played. I don't agree with being put in a box.' But, this is just the situation that I'm in.
There's been times where I go free and get transferred to being put in a box and used for what they think I was best used for. So, a lot of adjustments that got a little bit harder with all the coaching changes and the dynamic of the team changes. Players coming in and out and the core being broken up. Our championship core to being a far more depleted one. That's the game.
Who is the best teammate you've ever had?
I think by default, it falls on Ryan Reyes. I've been with him for my whole career except for my rookie year and being together for his whole career so he's been a great friend on and off the court. He has seen me through a lot of my own battles. He has seen me at my worst. And I have been able to count on him on and off the court. It's been 13 years now.
But I had some great teammates over the years and a lot of great examples of leaders and professionals like Harvey Carey and Jimmy Alapag. The list goes on. I've had some great teammates, but as far as my number one, it's Ryan. Because he's been there.
And I'm not the easiest guy to work with a lot of times. I'm very cerebral and very emotional. I can seem like I'm a brick wall at times so for guys to see past that, get through and find ways to understand me, I've always held them in high regard. Ryan's been one of those guys who have consistently been able to put past my mood swings and really try to help me out and understand.
What has it been like playing in the PBA, while also being away from home?
I mean, it's what you would expect. Obviously, being here and being able to play this game and play for it and just experience this lifestyle, it's been amazing. It's always hard being away from family and close friends. It's all part of the sacrifice because they benefit at the end of it but for us, and I know speaking with Ryan and a few of the other guys, it's definitely hard.
Those are one of the things you have to find to remember why you're doing what you're doing. As much as you love the game, there are times that's it's tough and you don't want to, you know, you may not want to go to practice. You may not want to play the game sometimes because it gets to the mental aspect, it's tough.
I can speak for myself personally. My kids have been living in the U.S. with their mom for the past almost five years and everyday it's been the hardest thing for me to check them on and deal with. It doesn't get easier being away from my kids. It doesn't get easier. But I have to find ways to remember why I'm here and do my best to connect with my kids as the father and be part of their lives and just find ways to offset. Those are just one of the adjustment things.