This is the Remix
Remixes aren’t always better than the original, but they can sometimes bring that X-Factor that the original didn’t have.
Now I’m not saying that Jason was levels ahead of some the greatest PGs ever cause that’s simply not true. But you know and I know that he brought a different level of excitement and flash to the position.
Understood? Cool.
Jason Williams wasn’t a “superstar” like player by any means, but that’s ultimately what made him great. Unique players like Jason don’t come around often, and in my opinion, more are needed. Jason had a WILD personality, which got him into trouble more times than not. He played High School ball with arguably the greatest Wide Receiver ever in Randy Moss. And he has some of the greatest handles in NBA history.
J-Will played college ball at both Marshall University (95'-96') and at the University of Florida (97'-98'), coached both times by Billy Donovan. He averaged 17.1 PPG & 6.7 APG in 20 games at Florida before being suspended for the season after a third violation due to marijuana use. Williams still owns the record at Florida for most assists in a single game with 17.
After Jason was suspended in 98', he declared for the draft. With all of the concerns about his character, it didn’t stop him from being drafted 7th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 98' NBA Draft. Jason played three years in “Sac Town” (98'-01') and with combined averages of 11.5 PPG & 6.2 APG it looked as if he would be a long time household name on a Kings team striving for a championship.
That didn’t happen however.
Although he immediately became one of the most popular players in the league, made spectacular plays look normal, and had one of the most popular jerseys in the NBA. Jason’s character issues from Florida would follow, and he would soon find himself traded to the newly relocated “Memphis Grizzlies” (formerly known as the Vancouver Grizzlies).
Memphis now being the home of an NBA team definitely took some time to get used to. For Jason Williams, the adjustment seem to be starting off strong as he averaged career highs in both points (14.8) and assists (8.0). The Grizzlies were a fairly young team with the oldest players being Nick Anderson and Grant Long.
From 02'-05' Jason Williams remained the starter for Memphis in a effort to get the new team to the playoffs, a place he’s been to previously with the Kings. Since the career year he had his first year in Memphis, his scoring averages dropped steadily, but his assists stayed around the 6-8 per game range.
The Grizzlies would reach the playoffs for the first time in 03'-04' with a 50–32 record, thanks to the legend himself, Hubie Brown coming out of retirement. Jason Williams was fifth on the team in scoring (10.9) and logged 6.8 APG. The Grizzlies would make the playoffs again the following season, but would be swept in the first round, which also was the end of the “White Chocolate” experience.
Williams (30) would find himself traded once again in the offseason of 05' to the Miami Heat. By this time of his career, Williams dealt with nagging injuries thus the reasoning of his numbers steadily dropping in Memphis. He was still able to snag the starting PG position in Miami, pairing him next to a rising young star in Dwyane Wade, and a veteran, Hall of fame center in Shaquille O’Neal. Veterans like Antoine Walker and Gary Payton helped fill out the roster.
The Heat finished the 05'-06' season 52-30 and would make go on to win the NBA Finals on the back of an All-Time amazing performance from Wade. Shaq, Walker, and Alonzo Mourning played huge parts as well. That season Williams missed 24 games with a knee injury, but played the second most minutes on the team behind Wade of course.
He was the third leading scorer for Miami that season averaging 12.3 PPG, he dished out 4.9 APG that was second on the team behind Wade as well. Jason was also one of the 3PT specialist on the squad shooting 37% from behind the arc. Williams would see his averages drop in the playoffs, but had big moments including a 10-11, 21 point game against the Detroit Pistons in game 6 of the ECFs.
Jason Williams played in Miami for two more seasons where he missed a combined 36 games with injury and dropped to as low as 9.8 PPG.
After retiring just a few days after he signed a contract with the Clippers, Williams would return in 2009 with the Magic, but ultimately fell out of the rotation and was back out of the league in 2011.
Jason Williams was fun to watch, no matter how you might look at him and his career. He was a starting PG for a championship winning team, and that attributes to how hard he worked on his craft. Yes, he was flashy and would often turn a regular pass into a “Behind-the-back” pass or even a “Elbow” pass. But ask most NBA fans that were able to watch him play, they’ll tell you how cold he was.
You don’t get the nickname “White Chocolate” for nothing.
Jason Williams to me was like Brett Favre to a certain extent, they both never met a pass they didn’t like. Turnover or not, they’re throwing it again.
Yeah, remixes aren’t always better than the original, but there damn sure worth listening to.
