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Jason Williams retires

Email|Link|Comments (4) Posted by Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff September 26, 2008 04:54 PM

From the NBA:

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Jason Williams announced his retirement from the NBA today, ending his 10-year career. Signed by the Clippers as a free agent on August 7, 2008, Williams did not appear in a game for Los Angeles.

Williams enjoyed a 10-year NBA career that saw him take the court for three different teams, (Sacramento 1998-2001, Memphis 2001-2005 and Miami 2005-2008). A member of the NBA Champion Miami Heat in 2005-06, Williams started all 23 playoff games and averaged 9.3 points and 3.9 assists for Miami in helping to win the organization’s first title.

The West Virginia native leaves the NBA with career averages of 11.4 points, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.4 rebounds while shooting 39.6 percent from the floor, 32.5 percent from three-point range and 81.6 percent from the foul line in 679 total games. Williams finishes his career with a 2.77 assist-to-turnover ratio.

He enjoyed his best statistical season in 2001-02 when he averaged 14.8 points, 8.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds for Memphis. In his four seasons with the Grizzlies, Williams became the club’s all-time assists leader and all-time leader in three-point field goals attempted in addition to being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2002-03 season by Sports Illustrated when he finished tied for second in the league in assists per game.

Originally drafted with the seventh overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft by Sacramento after one season at the University of Florida, Williams was named to the 1998-99 NBA All-Rookie Team following an electrifying first season that saw him average 12.8 points and 6.0 assists. Over the next nine seasons, Williams emerged as one of the most dependable point guards in the NBA, averaging double-figures in scoring and at least five assists per game in eight of his ten years in the league.

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4 comments so far...

Say it ain't so White Chocolate. When this guy came into the league w/Pierce and Vince Carter, he was a sign of things to come for a new era of flashy point guards. Erratic at times, but man he was fun to watch early on. By the way, anyone else notice C's tix went on sale at 10am and were gone at 10:08am? Unless you wanted nosebleeds to see the Grizzlies. What a joke

Posted by KobeWearsPurpleThongs September 26, 08 05:12 PM

remember those crossovers followed by a behind the back pass or a 360' layup off a jumpstop while charging the lane-so creative with the ball but my girlfriend used to hate him cause he looked like a crackhed and was always bouncing around. Just makes you want to go play ball right now.

Posted by Greg September 27, 08 12:54 PM

Man, when Jason came into the league u just had to be a fan of what he was doing! I mean in the worlds best league, he was pulling off Pete Maravich moves in a very competetive and much more althletic game than back in Pete's day. He was doing it on a nightly basis!!!! R.I.P that #55 Kings jersey.

Posted by We used to have Marty Conlon!!!! November 5, 08 11:50 AM

His moves were electric! I had to get myself a number 55 Miami practice jersey! thanks for the memories!

Posted by albert mendoza December 11, 08 11:24 AM