A life that once glittered had turned dark and murky. Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes. He received a five-year prison sentence and served 27 months before getting released in April 2012. Everything came to a crashing halt during on April 1, 1999. The way he does things with the ball is incredible to me. Williams took over full-time care of his niece and nephew. He kept his promise, undergoing treatment and maintaining sobriety. Police learned that Williams invited his guests to see his gun collection. The change and the growth Ive seen in so many people has been amazing, and I dont know where some people would be had they not been involved with Jayson. He even wiped the shotguns stock and put it in Christofis hands to make it appear as though the gunshot was self-inflicted. Williams said he asked to use an old volleyball net and basketball hoop, and soon physical activities entered the program. After inspecting the room in which he was found, they also questioned why it was filled with so many loaded firearms in unlocked cabinets. The worst prison resided in his mind. Only time will tell, but we know that anything is possible with a man once known as The Greatest Show On Court.. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. It turned out to be a career-saving move for the former St. Johns star. On August 2, 2005, Williams and teammate James Posey were two of thirteen players involved in the biggest trade in league history that saw them being dealt to the Miami Heat in exchange for shooting guard Eddie Jones.[21]. I have seen a part of Jayson that he would love for the world to get to know. The incident, though it was a tragedy, forced Jayson to become more vulnerable and more transparent, Martin said. "Because I didn't go in thinking I was somebody. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Two years later, he was accused of firing a semiautomatic weapon into the parking lot at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. DURHAM, N.C. Jay Williams had a dream. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The franchise operated for two seasons, 2002 and 2003, before moving to Anaheim, California, and becoming the Anaheim Storm. Unsubscribe at any time. The gun discharged, sending the fatal buckshot into the drivers stomach. He was released from prison in April 2012. In April 2004, Williams was acquitted of the more serious charges against him, but the court's jury deadlocked on a charge of reckless manslaughter. [37], On February 1, 2017, it was announced that Willams would be playing in the 3-on-3 basketball league BIG3, on the 3 Headed Monsters with former teammate Rashard Lewis. One of the firearms he showed off was a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, according to the New York Post. Well-known as the former professional basketball point guard in the NBA, Jason Williams has devoted twelve years in the league. Jayson Williams (born February 22, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons, primarily with the New Jersey Nets. He underwent surgery the next day and had to have a plate and five screws inserted into his leg. The fatal shooting occurred February 14, 2002, in the bedroom of Williams' New Jersey estate. Williams then ran downstairs and dove into his indoor swimming pool, presumably to get rid of any gunpowder residue. When I am not watching or writing about sports in my free time, I am probably enjoying some family time with my wife, Alexandra, our son, Cooper, and our dog, Winston. Christofi hadnt relapsed. Yes, he made mistakes. The Sacramento Kings selected him in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft. [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 joined Rashard Lewiss 3 Headed Monsters team, but he injured his knee in the very first game of the season and never returned. Less than three years after that injury, Williams' whole life came crashing down when reckless gunplay in his New Jersey mansion left his 55-year-old driver dead. According to The Smoking Gun, he shot his limo driver dead in February 2002. On April 30, 2004, the jury found Jayson Williams guilty of covering up the crime but were deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter charge. The distance between Christofis body and the gun, along with the absence of a blood trail, led detectives to also have suspicions about the death being a suicide. The victim was limousine driver Costas Gus Christofi, 55, of Washington, New Jersey. On the night before his first college basketball game before he started for Duke at Madison Square Garden, before he became a national . Had he pulled the trigger himself, the blast would have been at an angle. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.3 assists, which did not meet his career averages of 11.7 and 6.5. He regularly attempted, and mostly completed, passes such as behind-the back, no-look and half-court. Use time productively, Williams tells himself. 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. He crawled into the Catskills cabin, apparently intent on destroying his liver. He also played in all 14 of their playoff games, as the Magic advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Throughout his entire career, Williams continued to be known for his assists and for his creativity. [25] On August 19, 2009, Williams signed with the Orlando Magic. [22], In the summer of 2008, Williams signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to a one-year deal. Calkins was critical of the Grizzlies' lackadaisical play and had alleged that Williams did not care about winning basketball games. And now he was sequestered at a cabin in the Catskills, drinking himself into oblivion. St. Johns legend and Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, a recovering alcoholic, reached out to help. A 911 caller reported a suicide at a star athlete's home. Williams ended up serving 27 months in prison and is now a recovery advocate and the founder of a recovery program called Rebound at Futures Recovery Health Care in Florida. Well before the tragic death of Costas Christofi, Jayson Williams had suffered tremendously himself. The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder definitely didnt make an impact right away. Detectives tested the weapon for fingerprints. Im robotic. But Im not a good father.. He was the seventh overall selection in the 1998 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Actually, lots of bottles. the early morning hours of February 14, 2002, a panicked 911 call was made from a residence in quiet Hunterdon County, New Jersey. On April 30, 2004, the jury found Jayson Williams guilty of covering up the crime but were deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter charge. Terrible accident and the way I acted after the accident was being a coward. She and her sibling began using intravenous drugs and died from AIDS. He became a limo driver not long before his death. Since August 2020, Williams has also co-hosted ESPN Radio's weekday morning show, Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin, with Keyshawn Johnson and Zubin Mehenti - which became Keyshawn, JWill and Max with . ", "Clip of the Morning: Jason Williams Breaks Out the Elbow Pass to Scottie Pippen", "2008 University of Florida Track and Field Media Guide", "On the record: Williams grows into a Grizzlies veteran", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jason_Williams_(basketball,_born_1975)&oldid=1152339698, Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball players, People from Kanawha County, West Virginia, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 16:50. He even has his three childrens names tattooed on his forearm. Pursuant to that ruling, Williams emerged with a statement that presented a new perspective on the case. But I have not done a good job as a father. Williams married Denika Kisty, a University of Florida alumna, a former member of the Florida Gators track and field team, and an All-American javelin thrower. Williams played in all 82 games for the Magic that year, including 18 starts when Jameer Nelson was injured. One of the firearms he showed off was a Browning 12-gauge shotgun. Create a personalized profile and stay informed with tailored email notifications. He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter but was convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting. He also has his children's names on his forearms. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. That's my only job, just to be sober. ", A native of West Virginia, Williams played college basketball for Marshall University and the University of Florida. and told him to get rid of them. Brian Williams was a top 10 draft pick out of the University of Arizona in the 1991 NBA draft. The loss of Mr. Christofi and the loss of my father. 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. This was about five years ago, after I had finished interviewing Williams and his . Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Current one is: May 1. [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. [16], On January 11, 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Then two people who cared arrived at that cabin. Williams started at point guard for the Heat in the 200506 campaign, playing a total of 59 games due to a knee injury but placing second only to Dwyane Wade in minutes per game. Known as one of the best passers in the league, Williams was often over-shadowed by other league stars in their prime. "[12], Despite his NBA success, Williams preferred to stay out of the spotlight and live a low-key lifestyle, spending time with his family. [35] The rest of the season was fully guaranteed, with a player option for the second year of the contract. Jimmy Butler Vs Paul George: (Who's Better?). He became a limo driver not long before his death. Williams enjoyed a successful NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets from 1990 to 1999, when a leg injury forced his retirement. Hes had all the money in the world and everything: cash, fame, money, power. In 1996-97, he averaged a career-high 13.4 points despite shooting an underwhelming 40.9% from the field. One person finally came. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic throughout his career. Williams officially retired from the league on June 28, 2000. He served 27 months at Mid-State Prison and later served eight months at Rikers Islandfor a 2010 DWI. In 2010, after a protracted set of criminal proceedings on a charge of manslaughter, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. At Marshall, he played for coach Billy Donovan's Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team from 1994 to 1996. We had a guy suffering from agoraphobia. Take a chance on a genius. Shortly thereafter, Williams was released on bail, but the investigation remained ongoing. They found that the gun had been wiped clean. I think hes realized that wasnt the key to life. A lot of people have. They also say Williams pressured them to lie to police. [16], The NBA had previously fined Williams $10,000 for comments to a fan at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in 2000. 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.. 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. A one-time NBA All-Star with the New Jersey Nets, Williams career got cut short by a devastating leg injury. Help us maintain a respectful and inclusive community. New Jersey made the NBA playoffs but got bounced in the first round by Michael Jordans Chicago Bulls. In the first year of his massive contract extension, Williams broke his right leg in a collision with Stephon Marbury. [23] However, on September 26, 2008, Williams announced his retirement from the NBA after 10 years due to persistent injuries.[24]. [8][9] In February 1998, however, the University of Florida suspended him for the remainder of the season for cannabis use, after two previous suspensions for the same infraction. Jayson Williams' life had been a struggle for decades, due to his addiction. Williams also received an All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. As a West Virginia native, Jason attended Marshall University and the University of Florida for his education. [18] Williams was subsequently moved on April 19, 2011,[19] to Rikers Island to serve an additional 1-year sentence for a DWI,[20] of which he served 8 months and was released from custody on April 13, 2012. Black or white chocolate, his game was PURE SWEETNESS! "I came up with that name because of his style", Shepard said. Troubled NBA Star Jayson Williams Released From Prison", "Former Net Williams Tasered By the Police", "Troubled Jayson Williams Busted for Alleged Assault", "Jayson Williams Charged with D.W.I. Given her rise to fame, this may be surprising to some. "That's the only thing I feel good about these days," he admitted. Everything came to a crashing halt during on April 1, 1999. The witnesses were all given immunity for their cooperation and agreed to testify in court. 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. Williams, who turned 42 on Monday, appeared before Somerset County Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman. Jayson Williams, the former NBA All-Star, had served time in prison for the accidental shooting death of his . He hadnt been drinking or partying, according to a number of witnesses. He had suffered a gunshot to the front of his chest. What the heck? One thing I have learned is that people can change, and I would definitely say that Jayson has made a tremendous change. These days, the 51-year-old Williams who made an estimated $63 million in his nine NBA seasons, according to Basketball Reference works at his Rebound treatment program at Futures recovery center in Jupiter, Fla., enduring a schedule seemingly designed for someone who lost a big bet. Him with Vlade were true champions even though the Kings as a whole were not. Ive always enjoyed giving back, said Nasiff, 30, a former MMA fighter who comes from a family afflicted by alcohol and drug abuse. In 1994, he allegedly shot at a truck in a parking lot and was charged with "reckless endangerment and weapons possession," as reported byThe New York Times. [28], A third book, Crashing: A Memoir, was published in December 2018. Williams re-signed with the team on August 3, 2010. Detectives continued piecing together events by interviewing witnesses at the Mountain View Chalet, where Williams party had dined before going to his home. He was released on $250,000 cash bail. [11], In his rookie year, the Kings, with a roster that included newcomers Williams, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojakovi, turned into a playoff contender. On January 11, 2010, Williams. "He has flash and pizazz. Also, he is known as White Chocolate. 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.
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