His Turkish team doesn't play until September 27 (in a EuroCup, not Euroleague, contest vs. a Belgian team) but Deron Williams will be on the court Saturday in a University of Illinois Alumni game that will also feature ex-Net Kendall Gill.

"It’s always good to get back to Champaign," he told the Chicago Tribune. "(It’s) good to catch up with former players and coaches , catch up with those guys and beat up a little on them on the court as well."

Williams will also participate in a celebrity dodgeball tournament in Utah at the end of August before departing for  Istanbul and training camp with Besiktas.

• En route to Turkey, Deron Williams to compete in Illini alumni game - Shannon Ryan - Chicago Tribune