TUR/USA - Team USA's D-Will on court with Besiktas

ISTANBUL (Eurocup) - Deron Williams captured a gold medal with Team USA at the Beijing Games and no doubt will want to be with the Americans when they try to defend their title next year in London.

A 27-year-old in the prime of his career, Williams is an NBA superstar and one of the best guards in the game.

Unlike his previous seasons as a professional, though, Williams is not in the United States getting ready for the new season.

Instead, he's in Turkey.

Because of the NBA lockout and the uncertainty of the 2011-12 NBA season, Williams has signed for Besiktas and on Tuesday night, he helped the club move a step closer to playing in the Eurocup.

In the first leg of their Qualifying Round tie with Dexia Mons Hainaut in Istanbul, Williams made just three of his 15 shots from the floor but ended up with 15 points as Besiktas won 78-70.

He also handed out nine assists.

Besiktas had hoped to take a bigger margin of victory to Belgium for next week's second leg but the eight-point cushion will have to do.

Williams, instead of talking about his own performance, looked at the team's play.

"Players other than (Marcelus) Kemp (24pts) didn't play up to their potential but still we managed to increase the difference up to 15 at one point," he said.

"We turned the ball over too many times in the last quarter."

Besiktas had eight of their 12 turnovers in the last frame.

"Our field goal percentage (45.2%, 28 of 62) was low," Williams said.

"Still, we got an eight-point difference."

Besiktas do have more star power with Euroleague veteran David Hawkins, formerly of Roma and Armani Jeans Milano, also in the squad.

"The two teams' capacities are seriously different," Williams said.

"(But) We won't be thinking about this advantage in the second leg.

"We'll play aiming to play better ball and to win.

"We won't repeat our mistakes in the last quarter, and we'll be better as a team every passing day."

FIBA