CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Marvin Williams is now a Charlotte Hornet, but in his college years he spent a little time at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

• Marvin Williams played basketball at UNC Chapel Hill in 2004
• He says he understands the monument represents an uncomfortable part of history 
• RELATED: Silent Sam statue toppled at UNC Chapel Hill

He says he isn't too familiar with the statue, but says he understands it represented an uncomfortable part of history for a lot of people.

"Obviously there's a part of history and you never want to erase history, but you always want to move forward. I think moving forward, I think the direction we kind of want to get rid of some of those things," he said.

Williams played as a freshman at Chapel Hill in 2004 before he was drafted into the NBA the next year.