Jayson Williams
Encyclopedia
Jayson Williams is an American
former professional
basketball
player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers
and New Jersey Nets
of the National Basketball Association
. In 2010, he pled guilty to assault in the shooting death of a limousine driver. He is currently serving a six-year prison sentence.
in the first round with the 21st pick of the 1990 NBA Draft
. His draft rights were thereafter traded by the Suns to the Philadelphia 76ers
for a 1993 NBA first-round draft choice on October 28, 1990. 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.
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 1996–97 NBA season. The following season, Williams had a career year, leading the league in offensive rebounds and offensive rebound percentage while also finishing the season in the top five in total rebounds, rebounds per game, total rebound percentage and offensive rating. Williams also received his first and only All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game
.
in a game against the Atlanta Hawks
. The following day, Williams underwent career-ending sugery in which a plate and five screws were inserted into his leg. After sitting out the entire 1999–2000 NBA season, Williams officially announced his retirement on June 28, 2000 at the age of 32 after nine seasons. At the time of the injury, Williams was in the first year of a six-year, $90 million contract.
in Chicago
. Two years later, he was accused of firing a semiautomatic weapon into the parking lot at the Meadowlands Sports Complex
. He was never criminally charged in either case.
. Christofi had been hired to drive Williams's NBA charity team from a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
event to his mansion, about 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Trenton, New Jersey
. Members of Williams's NBA charity basketball team were present at the scene. The New York Post reported that Williams was playing with a shotgun while giving a tour of his 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) home when the weapon fired, killing Christofi.
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
. He was convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting.
On April 21, 2006, a Hunterdon County appeals court ruled that Williams could be retried on a reckless manslaughter charge stemming from the shooting death of Christofi. The court repeatedly delayed the retrial for a series of reasons, such as the State's 2008 appeal of a ruling relating to prosecutorial misconduct at the first trial.
On January 11, 2010, Williams pled guilty to aggravated assault. On February 23, 2010, he was finally sentenced to 5 years in prison with possible parole after 18 months.
(NYPD) reported on April 27, 2009, that Jayson 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. Upon entering the Manhattan
hotel room police said that Williams was visibly intoxicated, and that empty bottles of prescription medications were found around the room. Officers stunned him with the taser and took him to a hospital.
, in which he crashed his Mercedes into a tree. He was on August 20, 2010 sentenced to an additional year in prison, to be added on to the five-year prison sentence for the shooting death of a limousine driver. He additionally received a $16,433 fine for the damages to the tree.
of the National Lacrosse League
. The franchise operated for two seasons, 2002
and 2003
, before moving to Anaheim, California
, becoming the Anaheim Storm
team. 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
.
; he is of Polish
, Italian
and African-American descent. His father, Elijah Joshua Williams, died of a stroke aged 76 in November 2009. Williams played high school basketball for Christ The King RHS in New York City
and college basketball for the St. John's University.
Williams married Kellie Batiste in December 1999; they divorced soon afterward. In 2000, he married Tanya; they are divorcing. Tanya is a cast member of VH1's reality TV show Basketball Wives: LA
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
former professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
and New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. In 2010, he pled guilty to assault in the shooting death of a limousine driver. He is currently serving a six-year prison sentence.
NBA career
Williams was selected by the Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
in the first round with the 21st pick of the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
. His draft rights were thereafter traded by the Suns to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
for a 1993 NBA first-round draft choice on October 28, 1990. After two seasons as a bench player with the 76ers, Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for conditional draft choices on October 8, 1992.
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 1996–97 NBA season. The following season, Williams had a career year, leading the league in offensive rebounds and offensive rebound percentage while also finishing the season in the top five in total rebounds, rebounds per game, total rebound percentage and offensive rating. Williams also received his first and only All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game
1998 NBA All-Star Game
The 1998 NBA All-Star Game was the 48th edition of the North American National Basketball Association All-Star Game. The event was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The East won the game 135–114. This game was the debut of Kobe Bryant as the youngest all-star in NBA history at 19...
.
Injury and retirement
Williams' career came to a sudden end on April 1, 1999 after he broke his right leg in a collision with teammate Stephon MarburyStephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...
in a game against the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. The following day, Williams underwent career-ending sugery in which a plate and five screws were inserted into his leg. After sitting out the entire 1999–2000 NBA season, Williams officially announced his retirement on June 28, 2000 at the age of 32 after nine seasons. At the time of the injury, Williams was in the first year of a six-year, $90 million contract.
Legal incidents
In 1992, Williams was accused of breaking a beer mug over a patron's head at a saloonBar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Two years later, he was accused of firing a semiautomatic weapon into the parking lot at the Meadowlands Sports Complex
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
. He was never criminally charged in either case.
Murder/manslaughter charges
On February 14, 2002, 55-year-old limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi was shot to death at Williams's estate in Alexandria Township, New JerseyAlexandria Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,698 people, 1,535 households, and 1,290 families residing in the township. The population density was 170.6 people per square mile . There were 1,598 housing units at an average density of 58.0 per square mile...
. Christofi had been hired to drive Williams's NBA charity team from a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
event to his mansion, about 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. Members of Williams's NBA charity basketball team were present at the scene. The New York Post reported that Williams was playing with a shotgun while giving a tour of his 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) home when the weapon fired, killing Christofi.
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
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
. He was convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting.
On April 21, 2006, a Hunterdon County appeals court ruled that Williams could be retried on a reckless manslaughter charge stemming from the shooting death of Christofi. The court repeatedly delayed the retrial for a series of reasons, such as the State's 2008 appeal of a ruling relating to prosecutorial misconduct at the first trial.
On January 11, 2010, Williams pled guilty to aggravated assault. On February 23, 2010, he was finally sentenced to 5 years in prison with possible parole after 18 months.
Tasering incident
The New York City Police DepartmentNew York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
(NYPD) reported on April 27, 2009, that Jayson Williams was stunned with a taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
in a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
hotel by members of the NYPD after reports that Williams had become suicidal and violent. Upon entering the Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
hotel room police said that Williams was visibly intoxicated, and that empty bottles of prescription medications were found around the room. Officers stunned him with the taser and took him to a hospital.
Raleigh bar fight
Williams was arrested on May 24, 2009, for allegedly punching a man in the face at a bar in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was charged with simple assault. Later the charges were dropped by the alleged victim.DWI incident
Williams was charged January 5, 2010 with driving while intoxicated after an early morning accident in lower ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, in which he crashed his Mercedes into a tree. He was on August 20, 2010 sentenced to an additional year in prison, to be added on to the five-year prison sentence for the shooting death of a limousine driver. He additionally received a $16,433 fine for the damages to the tree.
Indoor lacrosse
Jayson Williams was also the principal owner of the New Jersey StormNew Jersey Storm
The New Jersey Storm were a member of the National Lacrosse League, based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They played from 2002 to 2003. After the 2003, due to low attendance in New Jersey, the team relocated to Anaheim, California, becoming the Anaheim Storm. After the 2005 season, the Anaheim...
of the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
. The franchise operated for two seasons, 2002
2002 NLL season
-All Star Game:The 2002 All-Star Game was held on April 21 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the North team beat the South 14-10. The MVP was Toronto's Steve Toll, who scored three goals. At the time, this also marked Paul Gait's final professional lacrosse game, as he...
and 2003
2003 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:The NLL gives out awards weekly for the best overall player, best offensive player, best defensive player, and best rookie.- Monthly Awards :Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie....
, before moving to Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, becoming the Anaheim Storm
Anaheim Storm
The Anaheim Storm was a member of the National Lacrosse League. They played at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. They were the New Jersey Storm from the 2002 season to 2003. Starting for the 2004 season the team relocated to Anaheim, California...
team. 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
2006 NLL season
-All-Star game:The 2006 All-Star Game was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on February 25, 2006. The West Division defeated the East Division 14-13. The MVP of the game was Lewis Ratcliff of the Calgary Roughnecks, who scored 4 goals, including the game winner...
.
Personal life
Williams was born in Ritter, South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
; he is of Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and African-American descent. His father, Elijah Joshua Williams, died of a stroke aged 76 in November 2009. Williams played high school basketball for Christ The King RHS in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and college basketball for the St. John's University.
Williams married Kellie Batiste in December 1999; they divorced soon afterward. In 2000, he married Tanya; they are divorcing. Tanya is a cast member of VH1's reality TV show Basketball Wives: LA
Basketball Wives: LA
Basketball Wives: LA is a reality television series that premiered on August 29, 2011, on VH1. Created by production company Shed Media, the series follows the lives of a group of women who have all been somehow romantically linked to professional basketball players. The show is filmed in Los...
.
External links
- Jayson Williams Historical Player Page at NBA.com
- Jayson Williams at Am I AnnoyingAmIAnnoying.comAmIAnnoying.com is a website that allows users to vote on celebrities based on their annoyance factors. It has more than 20,000 profiles of public figures and is the largest on-going celebrity polling site on the Internet....
- Court TV's coverage of the Williams trial