In the 200708 season, Williams played 67 games while averaging 8.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. While with the Nets, Williams only earned 12 starts in his first three seasons with the team before finally earning a full-time starting position in the 199697 season. This was about five years ago, after I had finished interviewing Williams and his . His style of play earned him the nickname White Chocolate.. [citation needed], Williams was also a frequent visitor to St. Jude Children's Hospital when he was a player in Memphis, Tennessee. Jayson Williams surrendered to New Jersey police in connection with the shooting death of a limousine driver. I asked Oak, What were you going to do with that bat? He said, I was going to do whatever I had to do to get you in that truck to get you down to Florida to go to treatment.. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. He hadnt been drinking or partying, according to a number of witnesses. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Following his retirement, Williams was charged in 2002 with the accidental shooting death of a limousine driver. During his age-29 season, Williams earned his first and only NBA All-Star selection after averaging 12.9 points and 13.6 rebounds. After Accident", "Former NBA player sentenced to additional year in prison", "Jayson Williams released from prison on Rikers Island", Former All-Star Jayson Williams, the Moses of Rikers, is writing a new book, "Daughters of Jayson Williams denounce his St. John's HOF nod", "Tanya Young Williams, Jayson Williams' Estranged Wife, On 'Basketball Wives,' Domestic Violence", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jayson_Williams&oldid=1151178565, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 22 April 2023, at 11:45. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. WHAT HAPPENED TO JASON WILLIAM'S STAR SON?! Theres breakfast with a goal-setting session, plus a daily check-in for past members through a video-messaging app. In the 200001 season, he had a wolf holding a basketball tattooed on his arm, and "WHITEBOY"[44] tattooed across his knuckles. Nike decided to change a planned advertising campaign featuring Williams as a result of his alleged actions as well. hristofi, who was born in Cyprus and called Gussy by loved ones, was invited in. He enjoyed three seasons with the Kings before being traded to the Grizzlies the team with whom he actually spent his last season. [16], On January 11, 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Given her rise to fame, this may be surprising to some. His third sister was shot in the face by her husband, who then killed himself. I cannot shake it. The Nets had just made their first playoff appearance since the 1993-94 season. He regularly attempted, and mostly completed, passes such as behind-the back, no-look and half-court. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Williams takes part, does another gym session then goes to bed around 8:30. He had suffered a gunshot to the front of his chest. By 2001, the Kings had concluded that Williams' behavior made him more trouble than he was worth. He played as a point guard in the NBA for the 12th season between the 1990s and 2000s. Living with a professional athlete isn't always as glamorous as society makes it out to be, according to "Basketball Wives" star Tanya Young Williams. As for the accidental shooting? Were giving people the ability to find new skills, new activities they enjoy before they go home, said Smith, the clinical director. In January 2004, the high-profile trial began. But then it was, I jumped out of a plane. Its a good way to remind yourself, if you can jump out of a plane, you can do most anything.. A 911 caller reported a suicide at a star athlete's home. [5] After sitting out the 199697 season as required by the NCAA transfer rule, he became the starting point guard for the Florida Gators men's basketball team during the 199798 season, and set a Florida Gators single-game record with 17 assists in a December 3, 1997 game against Duquesne. His playing style led Williams to be benched during crucial periods of some games. [3] His mother Barbara worked for years at Gouverneur skilled nursing facility in lower Manhattan. After redshirting his first season, he averaged 13.4 points and 6.4 assists per game during his 199596 freshman year. Williams was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round with the 21st pick of the 1990 NBA draft. His career ended after he suffered a grotesque knee and leg injury in an on-court collision April 1, 1999. Following a Globetrotters show in nearby Pennsylvania, Williams and the group had gone out to eat. Coleman declared a mistrial on that count, and the state had decided to move forward with a retrial on that charge when the plea deal was struck. "[12], Despite his NBA success, Williams preferred to stay out of the spotlight and live a low-key lifestyle, spending time with his family. "[22], The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported on April 27, 2009, that Williams was stunned with a taser in a New York City hotel by members of the NYPD after reports that Williams had become suicidal and violent. "I just try to live right and let the pieces fall where they may. The final season premiere brought up a lot of thoughts for viewers who had . Williams, who turned 42 on Monday, appeared before Somerset County Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman. The death was officially ruled a homicide. He even has his three childrens names tattooed on his forearm. In every way, shape, and form, it looked like a bright future for Williams and the Nets. What happened to Jason Williams Duke? [29], For the basketball player born in 1975, see, "Former NBA star Jayson Williams gets five-year sentence in shooting - CNN.com", "Retired NBA player Jayson Williams leaves jail", "E.J. He was a wreck. "There's not a day I wake up and I don't feel sorry for what I did to Mr. Christofi," Williams said. The prosecution contended that Williams was recklessly handling a 12-gauge shotgun when it discharged and that he and two others tried to make it look as if Christofi had shot himself. Following a Globetrotters show in nearby Pennsylvania, Williams and the group had gone out to eat. She and her sibling began using intravenous drugs and died from AIDS. His forced retirement at 32 lost the NBA player millions and ended his future career dreams. Popular user-generated Internet-video sites contain many "home-made" highlight videos dedicated solely to Williams' highlights. He was released in April 2012. Jason Williams Jason Chandler Williams (White Chocolate, J-Dub, J-Will, White Folks, The White Shadow, Duck, Showtime) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-1 , 190lb (185cm, 86kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2006 NBA Champ 1998-99 All-Rookie 55 2 2 55 55 44 3 SUMMARY Career G 788 PTS 10.5 TRB 2.3 AST 5.9 FG% 39.8 FG3% 32.7 FT% 81.3 Only afterward will a decision be made about where to send him, she said. [1], Williams was born in Belle, West Virginia. When his NBA career ended, Williams was one of the hottest commodities in Ice Cubes 3-on-3 league Big 3. [29] The couple divorced in 2011. While we may not have seen the absolute best of White Chocolate due to injuries, his wife and kids are getting to see the best of their husband and father in retirement. Jason Williams might end up being the best point guard coach in the history of the nba if someone would just call. [38] In his debut he injured his knee, and missed the remainder of the BIG3 season as a result.[39]. [27] Orlando was also located just south of Gainesville, where he had gone to college. Williams was giving Christofi a tour of his mansion when the former Nets player was showing a shotgun that he thought was unloaded but that went off and killed Christofi. He'd been assigned to drive Williams and his party. After joining the New Jersey Nets, Jayson Williams set the NBA world alight. Since experiencing a whirlwind of legal drama stemming from her husband's, Jayson Williams, involvement in the fatal 2002 shooting of a limo driver in their New Jersey home, has forced her to become a single parent during his incarceration. In 1996-97, he averaged a career-high 13.4 points despite shooting an underwhelming 40.9% from the field. He escaped prosecution for both incidents, but Williams' combined love of firearms and booze would ultimately prove his downfall. Last year, the state attorney general took the case from the Hunterdon County, New Jersey, prosecutor. "I started going over not long after I got here," said Williams, who has always said he likes to be around kids. In fact, he started just nine games for the 76ers before the franchise traded their disappointing former first-round pick to the Nets for a conditional draft choice. His life was on track, so investigators questioned why he would'vetaken his own life. After Memphis was swept by the Phoenix Suns in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Williams was reportedly involved in an altercation with Geoff Calkins, a columnist for the Commercial Appeal. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For example, he played on two teams in Memphis that only won 28 and 23 games in consecutive years. "If there was, I would do it. [4], When Marshall coach Billy Donovan accepted the head coaching position at the University of Florida in the summer of 1996, Williams decided to transfer and follow Donovan to Florida. "That's the biggest prison and the toughest prison I've ever been in." He attended DuPont High School (since consolidated into the current Riverside High School) in Belle, where he played high school basketball for the DuPont Panthers in 1994, and led his high school team to the state championship before being defeated by Martinsburg in the final. There, over the course of several weeks, he will be photographed, DNA samples will be taken, and he will be given medical, dental, psychological and educational evaluations, she said. Im a great friend. Williams also received an All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. Gee, those were the best times. It is also where he developed his love and passion for the basketball game. During Williams own rehab, he saw areas for improvement and developed ideas for what would become his Rebound program. The way he does things with the ball is incredible to me. After joining the New Jersey Nets, Jayson Williams set the NBA world alight. [2] He became the only player in DuPont team history to reach 1,000 points and 500 assists. The facility, which is accredited by the state through Futures, provides help for substance abuse and mental health issues. A Jayson Williams fan, Chrisofi was known for his easygoing personality as well as his resilience. The victim was limousine driver. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. [20] Williams maintained that the quotations were out of context, especially after Williams had delivered spectacular performances during the series, despite the Grizzlies' loss. [20][21] On the entire experience, Williams said in a 2012 interview with ESPN: "I truly don't want to see anybody cause any more pain to anybody. He was a highlight maker rather than proven star. He pled guilty to aggravated assaultin 2010 and served a 27-month prison sentence. While Williams was holding the gun it went off and Christofi was shot in the chest. Totally understandable. Officers stunned him with the taser and took him to a hospital. "[There is] nothing I can do or say to bring Mr. Christofi back," Williams said in the interview. Eight years after a dragged-out court trial with numerous delays, Williams was sentenced to five years in prison. . Had he pulled the trigger himself, the blast would have been at an angle. The witness said that this happened at 2:15 am about 45 minutes before the 911 call came in at 2:54 a.m. "Forty-five minutes is a long time, but that's how long it took for them to get their stories together, said Errickson. Only that wouldnt be the last time wed hear from him. He averaged 11 points per game over eight NBA seasons playing for five different teams, including the 1997 NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. Williams was a kid of his own who had just signed with St. Johns and he found himself with two young children. Williams was fined $10,000 for the incident on May 4, 2005. Help us maintain a respectful and inclusive community. [1][2] Early life[edit] Williams was born in Ritter, South Carolina, to Elijah Joshua "EJ" Williams and Barbara Williams. That's my only job, just to be sober. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Does that eat me up inside? Christofi was fatally shot on. "He wanted to play with me and I wanted to play with a guard who loves to pass and I think it'll be a good combination for myself and [guard] Dwyane Wade. Gus was lying on the floor with a blood-soaked shirt and clearly deceased, said Katharine Errickson, former Asst. A lot of people have. After two seasons as a bench player with the 76ers, Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets for conditional draft choices on October 8, 1992. I love helping people get better. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. I am an English teacher and freelance writer from Morehead, KY. After inspecting the room in which he was found, they also questioned why it was filled with so many loaded firearms in unlocked cabinets. If there was I would do it, Williams said. Wing Jason Harries is joining Wales' Josh Navidi and Kristian Dacey in retirement. During an interview on 60 Minutes in 2016, Williams called himself a coward. I truly believe its the most critical component of what we do. A life that once glittered had turned dark and murky. Take a chance on a genius. His teammates get a chance to know him daily. But hes still grinding, staying clean, and thats the most important thing, Oakley said. According to reports, Christofi had been hired to drive a group of Williams friends, including several members of the Harlem Globetrotters, to a local restaurant, while another group drove with Williams. Six years passed while both sides prepared for a second trial. What Jayson Williams' Life In Prison Was Really Like, TMZ/ New Jersey Department of Corrections. My dad had never been in the hospital in 70 years. Well-known as the former professional basketball point guard in the NBA, Jason Williams has devoted twelve years in the league. In February 2009, Williams announced he would attempt a return to the NBA. Williams was convicted on four counts of covering up the shooting but was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter. Williams allegedly jumped into a swimming pool to clean himself, changed clothes, wiped down the shotgun and repositioned it. NBA. He managed to get through the nightmare relatively unscathed, at least physically. In the playoffs his averages were lower than the regular season, but he scored in double figures 11 times in the post-season including 21 points on 10 of 11 shooting in Game 6 of the Eastern Finals against the Detroit Pistons. He spent 18 months in prison, and he was released April 13, 2012. Keep up with the latest trending news in sports with our daily newsletter. Tyleik Williams wreaked havoc on Ohio State's offensive line to start the second quarter. His play dropped dramatically in the postseason, averaging 5.8 points per game and 3.5 assists per game. Williams was the principal owner of the New Jersey Storm of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). As I got to see it and experience it, it really took off in my mind. Detectives continued piecing together events by interviewing witnesses at the Mountain View Chalet, where Williams party had dined before going to his home. Williams tries to guide others around the mistakes that altered his life. He was the seventh overall selection in the 1998 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic throughout his career. As the evening continued, Williams invited his guests to check out his gun collection in his mansions master bedroom.Prosecutors allege that soon after, he took out a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, and, with it pointed toward Christofi, yanked it upward. They found that the gun had been wiped clean. We wont send you spam. As recounted by a letter Ching sent to NBA commissioner David Stern, Williams retaliated against heckling made by Ching and his party midway through the first half. the early morning hours of February 14, 2002, a panicked 911 call was made from a residence in quiet Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. After his seasons with the Miami Heat, Williams was mostly a reserve averaging only about 13 minutes per game, but in his prime, he was known as a flashy, pass-first point guard with a competitive spirit. He became a limo driver not long before his death. On February 14, 2002, 55-year-old limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi was shot and killed at Williams's estate in Alexandria Township, New Jersey. After dinner, Christofi drove them all back to the Williams'. Both Jason and Denika are active on social media platforms where they often share their love for each other and their family. Sources said that Williams screamed in Calkins' ear and took his pen away from him. In the 200607 season, Williams was limited to 61 games, of which he started 55. Police learned that Williams invited his guests to see his gun collection. We had a guy suffering from agoraphobia. He says he stayed sober during that time, but upon his release from Rikers Island in April 2012, he was ill-equipped for life. [24], On January 5, 2010, Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated after an early morning accident in lower Manhattan, in which he crashed his Mercedes into a tree. So now there were suspicions about why they were willing to cover up what happened.. Ive always enjoyed giving back, said Nasiff, 30, a former MMA fighter who comes from a family afflicted by alcohol and drug abuse. "I was the one who helped broker the deal this summer", O'Neal said (in 2005) of the five-team, 13-player trade that brought Williams to Miami. Its being a better person.. Investigators leaned on the witnesses in the home by filing obstruction of justice charges. The incident, though it was a tragedy, forced Jayson to become more vulnerable and more transparent, Martin said. He served 27 months at Mid-State Prison and later served eight months at Rikers Islandfor a 2010 DWI. But Im not a good father.. In 1992, Williams was accused of breaking a beer mug over a patron's head at a saloon in Chicago. "I go see them when I can, and it's great to see their faces light up!"[45]. Most people may never get to know the heart Jayson has because most people know him as the NBA player who had that incident, Martin said. Hed been assigned to drive Williams and his party. That's the ripple effect. Jason Williams son Jaxon RISING UP (via @55buckets) pic.twitter.com/36J0Z9LxIS. Soon, though, the story changed, and witnesses began to reveal that it was actually Williams who had been holding the gun. My second sister, Sissy, she started trying to help my sister, soothe her, and started doing drugs with my sister, who got hooked on heroin before all the painkillers they were giving her, he said. His post-NBA life has not been near as exciting as his basketball career, but it is safe to say that Jason Williams is enjoying every minute of it spent with his wife of 18 years and his kids. After the 2008 season, and due to several injuries, Williams actually retired briefly before joining the Orlando Magic the very next season. It takes a visionary to see the potential that Jason could bring to young point guards, and 90% of the old timers too. Detectives tested the weapon for fingerprints. He would serve as the third leading scorer for Miami averaging 12.3 points a game, only trailed Wade with 4.9 assists per contest and was one of three players on the team with over 100 three-point baskets for the season. He is very private when it comes to personal matters, but he has been candid in expressing how important his family is to him. He was released on $250,000 cash bail. On February 14, 2002, Williams shot and killed his limousine driver, Costas Gus Christofi. Better yet i would have him spend time with the ones team are looking at and give us the best way to go. Williams played in all 82 games for the Magic that year, including 18 starts when Jameer Nelson was injured. In every way, shape, and form, it looked like a bright future for Williams and the Nets. [26] Williams was released from prison in April 2012.[27]. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. 10. He got a bottle. "That's the only thing I feel good about these days," he admitted. Williams was indicted for aggravated manslaughter and witness and evidence tampering, among other charges. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. Williams, father of former Nets star Jayson Williams, dies at 76", "Two Sides of Ex-NBA Star Clash in Shooting Death", "Broken Leg Sidelines Nets Star Williams", "Facing re-trial, Williams joins Idaho team NBA ESPN", "Reporter's Notebook; At Former Nets Star's Trial, A Tangle of Contradictions", "Jayson Williams sentencing comes after lengthy legal battle that spans 8 years", "Ex-Nets Star Faces Retrial for a Shooting at His Home", "Jayson Williams retrial on hold as state appeals racial slur ruling", Ex-Net Jayson Williams pleads guilty to fatal shooting of driver; faces minimum 18 months in jail, "Retired NBA star Jayson Williams to transfer from N.J. prison to Rikers Island", "Ex-NBA Star Jayson Williams Released from Rikers Island", "BREAKING! [1][2], Williams was born in Ritter, South Carolina, to Elijah Joshua "EJ" Williams and Barbara Williams. At his sentencing hearing, Jayson Williams apologized to Christofis family and said, Theres not a day I wake up and I dont feel sorry for what I did to Mr. Christofi.. Though he was acquitted of more serious counts -- tampering with a witness, tampering with evidence, fabricating evidence and hindering apprehension or prosecution -- the jury was unable to reach a decision on the second count of reckless manslaughter. He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter but was convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting. Jayson Williams' life had been a struggle for decades, due to his addiction. "[43], Williams has a number of tattoos, which include a panther on his right arm, a dragon on his left arm (which was redone in the 200708 season), an eye on his chest of which he said, "It's why I pass so good, I have a 3rd eye". The victim was limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi, 55, of Washington, New Jersey. Jayson Williams at the Rebound Futures rehab center. While doing so, he also had adopted his sisters children and had to make sure they were getting their education as well. Due to consistently poor results, as well as its presence in tough markets, the Storm failed to make much of an impression and it became defunct before the start of the 2006 season. One thing I have learned is that people can change, and I would definitely say that Jayson has made a tremendous change. The loss of Mr. Christofi and the loss of my father. In return, the state changed the indictment from a charge of reckless manslaughter to a charge of aggravated assault by recklessly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. In fact, it's incredibly normal. It turned out to be a career-saving move for the former St. Johns star. Jayson Williams can still display the same wit, humor and larger than life personality that made him a fan favorite in the NBA. Two days after his death, the medical examiners autopsy revealed that he had been shot straight into his chest. On May 1, 2002, former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams was indicted on a series of charges, including aggravated manslaughter, in connection with the shooting death of limousine driver Costas Christofi at Williams estate on February 14. The franchise operated for two seasons, 2002 and 2003, before moving to Anaheim, California, and becoming the Anaheim Storm. And now he was sequestered at a cabin in the Catskills, drinking himself into oblivion. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. Williams served 18 months and then served another eight months on a driving-under-the-influence charge. They both started using drugs intravenously and both my sisters caught the AIDS virus. Jayson Williams, the former NBA All-Star, had served time in prison for the accidental shooting death of his driver. [22], In the summer of 2008, Williams signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to a one-year deal. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) Just a few weeks ago, Ohio State quarterback C.J . Dec 5, 2016 Former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams says he was "being a coward" when he tried covering up the drunken "terrible accident" in which he shot his limousine driver to death, he told. After his stay, he volunteered at a recovery center, Epiphany, in Delray Beach, Fla., where he put those ideas into practice. These players included: Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Kobe Bryant. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. [citation needed] With his risky play, he was turnover-prone at times: in his second and fourth years, he peaked at over 3.5 per game. One person finally cameforward. Jay Williams was sitting on top of the world in June 2003. Williams later drank heavily, saying at his lowest moments that he would down "a fifth of moonshine" daily. Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes. After that, go back to Manhattan, pick my son up, then pick my daughter up and bring them to practice at St. Johns., Williams said his kids would sit through the four-to-five hours of practice. One of a kind talent! The Nets star Wednesday morning claimed ESPN analyst Jay Williams lied on national television about an apparent encounter they had at a holiday party years. RELATED: Most Shocking 'Accident, Suicide Or Murder' Reveals. It wasn't a self-inflicted gunshot.. He was also known for taking spectacular three-point shots that drove home audiences wild. The witnesses were all given immunity for their cooperation and agreed to testify in court. On February 25, Williams was charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter, as well as other charges related to tampering with evidence. Hed give you the shirt off his back and Ive seen that shirt, shoes. Though it took him a few years to work on his game, Williams eventually became the Nets starting power forward/center. He hadnt been drinking or partying, according to a number of witnesses. If I see you with sunglasses on and its raining, Oh, theres a problem there.. But after retiring earlier than he expected, Williams encountered legal troubles that included going to prison for killing his limo driver. But, an on-court clash with Stephen Marbury. The team improved by a franchise record 28 wins in Brown's first season. Daily 10-hour sessions too often devolved into boasts about former bouts of drinking or drug use. Detectives continued piecing together events by interviewing witnesses at the Mountain View Chalet, where Williams party had dined before going to his home. When my kids tell me you have not put enough time in to be my dad, I understand I havent been in their lives, Williams said. Its rise and yawn daily at 3:30 a.m., drive to the gym for a workout that starts at 4:04 (not 4:00 or 4:05). Once at the restaurant, the men racked up a significant liquor bill. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Get ALL the latest NBA news straight to your inbox! His time with the Magic only lasted one season, and the 2010-2011 season, his final one, was spent with three different teams: Orlando, Toronto, and, finally, Memphis. Several months ago, Rebound merged with the expansive Futures Recovery Healthcare System which, among other things, means more people seeking help. [6][7] Through twenty games, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game, and led the Gators to an 8678 upset of the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Though he had several brushes with the law, Williams was better known for his affable demeanor and off-the-court charity and youth work, and was widely praised for taking in his nephews after two of his sisters died of AIDS. Another witness corroborated the report. Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball, "HEAT Unveils Top 25 Players of All -Time", "Martinsburg to honor state title team from 1994", "Williams takes charge in Florida's 10085 victory", "201112 Florida Gators Men's Basketball Media Guide", "Gators drop Jason Williams for remainder of season", "Florida stuns Kentucky; New Mexico tops Utah", "1Clippers take Olowokandi No.
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