good for him:
Jay Williams, who is trying to revive his career after a motorcycle accident three years ago, signed with the New Jersey Nets on Thursday.
Terms of the contract were not immediately available, but the deal is not guaranteed. It does allow Williams, a point guard, to try out for the Nets during training camp. He is considered a bit of a longshot to make the team.
Jason Kidd is the Nets' starting point guard, and Marcus Williams, the team's first-round draft pick, is expected to back him up.
Nets president Rod Thorn said earlier this week that the accident has taken away some of Williams' athleticism, but he can make up for that with his knowledge of the game.
"Remarkable young man to get to this point," Thorn said. "Nobody outworks him. He's got a tremendous attitude. He's a guy that everybody roots for the kind of person that he is. He believes he'll make it back. And we're certainly hopeful that he will, too."
Originally drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Williams averaged 9.5 points, 4.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.15 steals in 75 contests during the 2002-03 season. He was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team.
Williams' career appeared to end on June 19, 2003, when he crashed his recently bought motorcycle into a light pole in Chicago, fracturing his pelvis and tearing knee ligaments and suffering nerve damage in his left leg. He was hospitalized for 3½ months.
The Bulls eventually bought out his contract for about $3 million.
Jay Williams, who is trying to revive his career after a motorcycle accident three years ago, signed with the New Jersey Nets on Thursday.
Terms of the contract were not immediately available, but the deal is not guaranteed. It does allow Williams, a point guard, to try out for the Nets during training camp. He is considered a bit of a longshot to make the team.
Jason Kidd is the Nets' starting point guard, and Marcus Williams, the team's first-round draft pick, is expected to back him up.
Nets president Rod Thorn said earlier this week that the accident has taken away some of Williams' athleticism, but he can make up for that with his knowledge of the game.
"Remarkable young man to get to this point," Thorn said. "Nobody outworks him. He's got a tremendous attitude. He's a guy that everybody roots for the kind of person that he is. He believes he'll make it back. And we're certainly hopeful that he will, too."
Originally drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Williams averaged 9.5 points, 4.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.15 steals in 75 contests during the 2002-03 season. He was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team.
Williams' career appeared to end on June 19, 2003, when he crashed his recently bought motorcycle into a light pole in Chicago, fracturing his pelvis and tearing knee ligaments and suffering nerve damage in his left leg. He was hospitalized for 3½ months.
The Bulls eventually bought out his contract for about $3 million.
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Massachusetts
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Re: Nets sign Jay Williams three years after accident
Thu, September 28, 2006 - 6:12 PMTruly sad story about J.Will. I'm a Bulls fan and can only imagine where we'd be had he not been injured. Poor guy never played a game.
Good for him is right.
