Michael Carter-Williams on NBA transition to May 29 boxing debut: 'I took my licks a bunch'

Yahoo

22-05-2025

Former NBA star Michael Carter-Williams is staying active, but not on the court. The 2013 Rookie of the Year, who's been retired from basketball since 2023, is turning his attention to the combat sports world.
Carter-Williams, 33, has always been a fight fan, which is what convinced him to give it a go himself. On May 29, he makes his boxing debut in an amateur match against Sam Khativ at Broad Street Brawl in New York. The heavyweight contest will be contested over three two-minute rounds and raise funds for Bigvision Community, a nonprofit that aids young adults recovering from substance abuse.
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Aside from the great cause, why would Carter-Williams want to compete?
"I think it's just to scratch that itch," he explained on Wednesday's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I've been competing my whole life, and that's something I want to do. I want to continue to compete. I respect the sport. I'm a big fan. I watch a lot. I've got a lot of friends that fight."
Carter-Williams' age theoretically gives him plenty of time left to have a decent go in boxing if he wants to seriously pursue a career change. Ultimately, his NBA run was cut short due to a combination of ankle injuries and his desire to spend more time with his family. He recalled gaining a noticeable amount of weight immediately after retiring from professional basketball and working out less. The Syracuse alum eventually got back into the swing of an exercise routine, but that still wasn't enough — hence the boxing gym became Carter-Williams' new go-to through a friend, and he started to take to it more and more.
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Carter-Williams has taken it seriously and said he spars "heavy" at least twice a week ahead of his upcoming amateur debut. His ankle issues of the past have been absent thus far in his boxing training.
Taking a punch is always one of the biggest question marks surrounding athletes who make the jump to pugilism. But when Carter-Williams first met with trainer Jeovanny Estrela, he was ready to get to work.
Thus far, the physical nature of the sport hasn't been a problem.
"I was kind of used to it off the bat," Carter-Williams said of getting punched. "That was one of those things going in sparring where I was kind of proud of myself. I wasn't nervous, jittery. I try to go in there aggressive. I took my licks a bunch of times. Honestly, I was aggressive. It didn't phase me as much. Getting hit, there was a couple times where I was like, 'OK, that's what it feels like to get your bell rung a little bit.'"
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Considering how big of a fight fan and natural competitor Carter-Williams is, it may be hard for him to stay away from the game if his debut goes well. For now, that's all he's worried about, but don't think the 6-foot-6 former hooper hasn't already scoped out the boxing niche he'd instantly fit right into with Misfits Boxing's brand of celebrity/influencer pugilism.
"I think I want to," Carter-Williams said of doing multiple boxing matches. "I don't know where it's going to take me or where it's going to lead me. I know that there's an avenue for people, who played professional sports, who enter the boxing ring. There's a lane there. I don't know, I'm kind of taking it one step at a time. It's one of those things I definitely want to keep getting better at.
"I've thought about [the influencer angle]. I want to get this under my belt and go from there."