Relating specifically to the shooting incident, Williams went on to say "I struggle with the loss of lives. Williamss life outside of basketball is not as flashy as his behind the back crossovers and no-look passes. In his later years with Memphis and Miami, he significantly tamed his extravagant playing style and consistently achieved one of the highest assists per turnover ratios in the NBA. The point guard suffered a severed nerve in his leg, a fractured pelvis, and three torn ligaments in his knee, including his ACL. Gus was lying on the floor with a blood-soaked shirt and clearly deceased, said Katharine Errickson, former Asst. Former NBA star Jayson Williams gets five-year sentence in shooting - CNN Williams tearfully apologized to the family of Costas "Gus" Christofi during his sentencing hearing Tuesday morning. They were able to confirm that. What happened to Jason Williams Duke? Jayson Williams was a highly regarded person in Hunterdon County, but his personal memoir revealed a darker side. Investigators looked for leads elsewhere. What the heck? If I see you with sunglasses on and its raining, Oh, theres a problem there.. 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. At 9, there is adventure therapy. The teammates engage in 19 different activities, from scuba diving to snorkeling to skydiving, designed to promote confidence, self-esteem and to help them overcome anxieties. He spent 18 months in prison, and he was released April 13, 2012. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Jaxon Williams- Meet Son Of NBA Player, Jason Williams - Married Celeb I've never seen a newbie go to jail and not cry the first two months every night, scream and have to get suicide prevention in front of his cell." At 7, I teach a goal-setting class [and] pretty much see how everybody slept, how youre doing, how youre feeling, Williams said. Williams fired at a car carrying five people, including three under 18, following "a verbal argument about guests in the house being asked to leave," according to the San Diego County Sheriff's . 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. "I just try to live right and let the pieces fall where they may. While Williams was holding the gun it went off and Christofi was shot in the chest. [31][32] He was granted his release from the team on January 26, 2011. One of the firearms he showed off was a Browning 12-gauge shotgun. He hadnt been drinking or partying, according to a number of witnesses. Im a great brother. [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. The men in the house included then 33-year-old Williams, an ex-ballplayer well-liked in this community, his half-brother Victor Santiago, who was the person who called 911, four of the ballplayers friends, and four Harlem Globetrotters. "There's not an hour goes by where I don't think about the destruction I've caused," he shared. Williams' career came to a sudden end on April 1, 1999, after he broke his right leg in a collision with teammate Stephon Marbury in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. On February 14, 2002, Williams shot and killed his limousine driver, Costas Gus Christofi. I hadnt heard much about it outside a traditional place like in Utah where they do wilderness therapy, said Cody Smith, LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), who has 15 years of experience in the field and is the clinician director at the facility, overseeing therapeutic services. The condition that he refrain from alcohol was imposed soon after Williams was charged with drunken driving in early January after crashing his SUV in Manhattan. In 2001, Williams authored a book about basketball entitled Loose Balls. In the first year of his massive contract extension, Williams broke his right leg in a collision with Stephon Marbury. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about point guard Jason Williams on ESPN. Following his retirement, Williams was charged in 2002 with the accidental shooting death of a limousine driver. Pursuant to that ruling, Williams emerged with a statement that presented a new perspective on the case. Williams' father, Elijah Joshua Williams, died of a stroke at the age of 76 in November 2009. He had a zest for life, said Dr. Dora Kontogiannis, the victims aunt, who called the suicide story just crazy.. There are peoples lives literally being saved, and Ive spoken to some of them. So now there were suspicions about why they were willing to cover up what happened.. I have seen a part of Jayson that he would love for the world to get to know. 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 Williams made headlines when he served prison time in the accidental death of his limousine driver back in 2002. Williams admitted he failed the check the safety mechanism of one of the guns that went off and killed Costas Christofi, the 55-year-old limo driver. 2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics. She survived the attack, but later died at 15 when she contracted AIDS through blood transfusions stemming from the incident. And now he was sequestered at a cabin in the Catskills, drinking himself into oblivion. Jayson Williams Went Through Absolute Hell and Still - Sportscasting (CNN) -- Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for the fatal shooting of his limo driver in 2002. He is a twice, maybe thrice-in-a-lifetime player and anyone that has seen him play knows it. A lot of people have. 'I Have To Work On Dealing With My Past': Former NBA Player Jayson Several months ago, Rebound merged with the expansive Futures Recovery Healthcare System which, among other things, means more people seeking help. "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. "I'm sorry, and I take responsibility for that, and I think about it all the time," Williams admitted. Hed been assigned to drive Williams and his party. Williams tries to cram 15 hours of recovery work mainly for others, but for himself, too into every day. Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes. "Be sober. Keep up with the latest trending news in sports with our daily newsletter. She and her sibling began using intravenous drugs and died from AIDS. On April 30, 2004, the jury found Jayson Williams guilty of covering up the crime but were deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter charge. The doctors, techs, therapists, clinicians, nurses, plus teammates past and present, are Williams family now. To learn more about the case, watch Accident, Suicide or Murder, airing Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen. He can still fill up a room with his booming laugh and . [citation needed], Williams was also a frequent visitor to St. Jude Children's Hospital when he was a player in Memphis, Tennessee. Williams earned the nickname "White Chocolate" due to. Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss was one of Williams' high school basketball teammates. The loss of Mr. Christofi and the loss of my father. Had he pulled the trigger himself, the blast would have been at an angle. I lost both my sisters. A longtime fan of j-will (Sacramento, CA) I might be the only fan to get the same dragon tattoo on the left arm and the panther on the right. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. Known as one of the best passers in the league, Williams was often over-shadowed by other league stars in their prime. Everything came to a crashing halt during on April 1, 1999. At 29, he signed a $90 million six-year contract (per Sportscasting ). Why Allison Williams Kept Turning Down Blumhouse Movies - TheThings "There's not a day I wake up and I don't feel sorry for what I did to Mr. Christofi," Williams said. It wasn't a self-inflicted gunshot.. Were giving people the ability to find new skills, new activities they enjoy before they go home, said Smith, the clinical director. A guy named Sergio had stabbed her 17 times and beat her over her face with a hammer, Williams said in a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad. COMPETITIVE SPIRIT this man is a gifted, highly skilled professional basketball player, who has mastered all of the games fundamentals and then polished his own style. His third sister was shot in the face by her husband, who then killed himself. Popular user-generated Internet-video sites contain many "home-made" highlight videos dedicated solely to Williams' highlights. Gee, those were the best times. The nickname was started in Williams' rookie year by Stephanie Shepherd, a media relations assistant with the Sacramento Kings. And I don't want to see anybody in a cage, man. For other reasons, Williams found life difficult well before his NBA days. During his rookie year, the PR department of the Sacramento Kings gave him the nickname. 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. After getting clean from a drug habit, Christofi, helped people dealing with substance abuse, according to. After the 2008 season, and due to several injuries, Williams actually retired briefly before joining the Orlando Magic the very next season. After his stay, he volunteered at a recovery center, Epiphany, in Delray Beach, Fla., where he put those ideas into practice. The cover-up was selfishness me trying to protect myself.". "Not because I'm a tough guy," Williams admitted, wiping away tears. The gun discharged, sending the fatal buckshot into the drivers stomach. The Mysterious Life and Murder at Sea of NBA Champion - Sportscasting Don't lie in the name of Kevin Durant. As one of the NBAs best rebounders, Jayson Williams appeared primed to dominate as he approached age 30. His quest to be a better person is virtually all-consuming. 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. The lack of information in Williams attorneys statement raised more red flags. In a panicked 911 call, Williams' brother claimed Costas Christofi "picked up a loaded gun" and accidentally "shot [himself] in the chest." Take a chance on a genius. Miami closed out Detroit in that game and would win the NBA Championship over the Dallas Mavericks, giving Williams his first and only title. Rather than dwell on the harsh realities, he dives deeper into his calling. 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. That year, Williams' number 55 jersey was among the top five sellers of all NBA players. Ex-NBA Star Jayson Williams Shoots Limo Driver Gus Christofi | Crime News Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. He served an 18-month prison sentence before also serving another eight-month sentence for driving under the influence. 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. 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. That's my only job, just to be sober. The witnesses were all given immunity for their cooperation and agreed to testify in court. By 2001, the Kings had concluded that Williams' behavior made him more trouble than he was worth. I got out of jail and went, [Bleep], I cant get a job, said Williams, who admitted he held the unrealistic expectation that NBC would call, wanting him back. Even though hes battled his way to sobriety since his playing days, he suffered many challenges in his younger years. Williams. As for the accidental shooting? 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. He had recently signed to play with the Chicago Bulls after playing for Duke University. Two days after his death, the medical examiners autopsy revealed that he had been shot straight into his chest. 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. 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. Williams was indicted for aggravated manslaughter and witness and evidence tampering, among other charges. He became a well-received NBA studio commentator for NBC, but that job evaporated after Christofis death. Investigators leaned on the witnesses in the home by filing obstruction of justice charges. New York nanny pleads not guilty in children's deaths, 2nd suit claims Elmo puppeteer had sexual contact with minor, BP blocked from new government contracts over Gulf spill, Fine art from an iPhone? A jury convicted him of those charges in 2004. His life was on track, so investigators questioned why he would'vetaken his own life. "I've quit trying to protect myself," Williams said. [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. In January 2004, the high-profile trial began. His life was a mess. When he was 13 years old, his older sister Linda was mugged and stabbed multiple times by a neighborhood junkie. 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. On May 21, prosecutors took the first steps toward retrying Williams. 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. Additionally, general manager Geoff Petrie was concerned that Williams had not developed into a more complete point guard. NBA. 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. Only time will tell, but we know that anything is possible with a man once known as The Greatest Show On Court.. Meanwhile, the conversation sort of skimmed right over the fact that Tristan Vizcaino was re-signed to the roster this offseason, and Jerry didn't sound too fired up about . Somebody just got shot, the caller said in a recording of the report heard on, Officers arrived at the scene at the home of, Individuals at the estate directed police to an upstairs bedroom. Thats when the gun was wiped down, according to investigators. [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. At Marshall, he played for coach Billy Donovan's Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team from 1994 to 1996. He was one of the best it was a pleasure to watch him. 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. 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. In January 2003, Williams paid Christofi's family $2.75 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit. After inspecting the room in which he was found, they also questioned why it was filled with so many loaded firearms in unlocked cabinets. [2] He became the only player in DuPont team history to reach 1,000 points and 500 assists. An injury ended Williams' chance to be one ofthe highest-paid athletes in the NBA, and Williams ruined his TV career the night he accidentally killed his limo driver. [23], Williams was arrested on May 24, 2009, for allegedly punching a man in the face at a bar in Raleigh, North Carolina. A New York judge ordered him to wear an electronic bracelet that monitors perspiration to detect whether alcohol has been consumed. Williams was a kid of his own who had just signed with St. Johns and he found himself with two young children. Six years passed while both sides prepared for a second trial. Hes had all the money in the world and everything: cash, fame, money, power. AP. ", Ex-Net Williams was 'coward' over 2002 shooting, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Hobbled Butler serves as 'decoy' late in Heat win, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, How do Stephen Curry and the Warriors keep doing this?! Williams tries to guide others around the mistakes that altered his life. 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 . 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. Detectives continued piecing together events by interviewing witnesses at the Mountain View Chalet, where Williams party had dined before going to his home. This was unusual because it was called in to 911 as a suicide, said Errickson. Sean Nasiff (l. to r.), Jayson Williams and Charles Oakley. But Im not a good father.. 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. In every way, shape, and form, it looked like a bright future for Williams and the Nets. 00:00 / 00:00. He regularly attempted, and mostly completed, passes such as behind-the back, no-look and half-court. [book 3]. 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. It takes a visionary to see the potential that Jason could bring to young point guards, and 90% of the old timers too. The Nets had just made their first playoff appearance since the 1993-94 season. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Jaysons got a big heart, so hes going to be out to prove people wrong. Eight years after a dragged-out court trial with numerous delays, Williams was sentenced to five years in prison. He even wiped the shotguns stock and put it in Christofis hands to make it appear as though the gunshot was self-inflicted. "I go see them when I can, and it's great to see their faces light up!"[45]. [40], In the Rookie Challenge of the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2000, in a counter-attack, Williams made a no-look, behind-the-back pass off the elbow on a full sprint to Raef LaFrentz. However, after he was banged up behind bars, his life became even more of a nightmare. Him with Vlade were true champions even though the Kings as a whole were not. But according to Accident, Suicide or Murder, Williams had instructed guests not to speak to police in front of officers. Christofis family members never believed Gussy killed himself. [18] In 2002, Grizzlies' general manager Jerry West hired Hubie Brown out of retirement to coach the team. 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. [30] After missing time due to injury, Williams was unable to crack the Magic's rotation behind Nelson and new acquisitions Chris Duhon and Gilbert Arenas. Its hard to imagine anyone going through what Williams endured in his younger days, but he still managed to find a way to become a top-notch father. [41], Williams' nickname was "White Chocolate". Yes. After changing his name to Bison Dele in 1998, he up and left the NBA at age 30 walking away from . Unsubscribe at any time. Or, in this case, for a man still desperate to escape the nightmare realities of his life. Totally understandable. In 1996-97, he averaged a career-high 13.4 points despite shooting an underwhelming 40.9% from the field. "[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". Hed been assigned to drive Williams and his party. In 1992, Williams was accused of breaking a beer mug over a patron's head at a saloon in Chicago. Jayson Williams at the Rebound Futures rehab center. He even has his three childrens names tattooed on his forearm. [28], A third book, Crashing: A Memoir, was published in December 2018. [citation needed], In 2003, Williams, when he was playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, along with Dr. Bob Wallace of the UT Medical Group founded the We Will Foundation, a charitable foundation to benefit children facing treatment for craniofacial deformities. 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! 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. On February 17, Williams attorney told the press that what occurred was a tragic accident, said Errickson. [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. NFL Insider Reveals Return Timetable for Jameson Williams Williams served 18 months and then served another eight months on a driving-under-the-influence charge. That further supported the theory that the crime scene had been tampered with before authorities arrived. "I came up with that name because of his style", Shepard said. One incident led to an arrest that was given the benefit of a pre-trial intervention for first-time offenders in New Jersey. [25] On August 20, 2010, he was 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. What we saw wasnt consistent with what we were told, said John Garkowski, former senior investigator for the New Jersey State Police. 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. I have not learned with my own family to make it work. He played as a point guard in the NBA for the 12th season between the 1990s and 2000s. During an interview on 60 Minutes in 2016, Williams called himself a coward. Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams accuses judge of not following law The AP reports that during a 1992 Chicago bar brawl with Charles Barkley, Williams smashed a "beer mug" over a man's head. Jason Williams (@55buckets) May 22, 2020. Get the latest NFL news on Jameson Williams. , 55, of Washington, New Jersey. All Rights Reserved. 8 yr. ago. He escaped prosecution for both incidents, but Williams' combined love of firearms and booze would ultimately prove his downfall. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? Williams' sister was "stabbed 17 times and beat over the face with a hammer." Williams, who retired in 1999 because of a leg injury, played nine seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets. The charges stem from a March 27 shooting incident in the. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! His draft rights were thereafter traded by the Suns to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 1993 first-round draft choice on October 28, 1990. Jason Williams Stats, News, Bio | ESPN The incident, though it was a tragedy, forced Jayson to become more vulnerable and more transparent, Martin said. I love helping people get better. And then another. Everybody thinks they're so tough and they can go to jail. These players included: Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Kobe Bryant. Some witnesses say Williams almost immediately began tampering with the scene to make it appear that Christofi killed himself while the rest of the group had been elsewhere in the house. He is estranged from his two daughters, ages 16 and 15, who live with their mother in New Jersey. During his age-29 season, Williams earned his first and only NBA All-Star selection after averaging 12.9 points and 13.6 rebounds. The 911 caller claimed Christofi grabbed one of Williams firearms out of a cabinet and shot himself. [10] At the time of the injury, Williams was in the first year of a six-year, $90 million contract. Jason Williams - Basketball-Reference.com The only accolade I give myself in my whole life is that my kids only missed five days of school and I got my degree in four years.. In January 2004, the high-profile trial began. Members of Williams's NBA charity basketball team were present at the scene.

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