Earlier this week, while both players worked out at Duke, fellow former Blue Devil and current Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick looked at Jay Williams and smiled.
"He told me I should just go for it," Williams said about another comeback attempt. "My health is great and I'm an active body. But I've lost the passion to play competitively."
I find it somewhat amusing that the one urging a comeback is benchwarmer JJ. At least Jay is honest with himself. Props to him for finding inner peace.
I was just talking to someone about this guy and his career. It's so unfortunate how Jason Williams ended up the way he did. He was destined to be one of the great point guards in the NBA, and he had a solid rookie season.
He was an absolute stud in college at a championship-winning program in Duke. He changed his name to Jay, and it was like a curse. It's sad because he had enormous potential. Add him to the list of "what ifs" in NBA history.
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Originally Posted by NoGunzJustSkillz
lol at finding inner peace. how much is he making rite now?
He would have had a solid career, but nothing special. I'm guessing that he would have been in the 14 - 18 ppg, 6 - 8 apg range. Certainly capable of a 30+ point game every now and then, but not consistently.
So, no, not a bust in my view, but given his draft position and the high expectations, its debatable.
Personally, I don't think he's close to being 100% healthy. I'm guessing that he would have been back by now if that was the case.
I was just talking to someone about this guy and his career. It's so unfortunate how Jason Williams ended up the way he did. He was destined to be one of the great point guards in the NBA, and he had a solid rookie season.
Come on, this makes me mad. He wasn't "destined" for anything. Like you said, his rookie season was solid, nothing more. And this was guy who was heavily hyped in the draft vs. Yao Ming because Jason Williams was supposedly an instant "ready now" star type player while Ming was a project. Well, Yao had a far better season and has obviously gone on to be a star player.
Williams might have become a star PG, but then again he might have been an average one as well. We just don't have much to go on, and what we do have isn't that promising. Kirk Hinrich had a FAR better rookie season and look what he's become, an average PG.
It's too hard to tell if he could have been "great" or not. He had some good games in his rookie season including a triple double against Jason Kidd.
I agree with some other people in this thread though he should at least try to come back again as a back up PG. If he's in good shape and can play... why not?
No Comeback for Jay Williams
