what happened to jason williams

That year, Williams' number 55 jersey was among the top five sellers of all NBA players. In the early morning hours of February 14, 2002, a panicked 911 call was made from a residence in quiet Hunterdon County, New Jersey. [38] In his debut he injured his knee, and missed the remainder of the BIG3 season as a result.[39]. In 2002, Williams accidentally shot and killed Costas Gus Christofi, a 55-year-old limo driver, and then tried to cover up the incident. He had suffered a gunshot to the front of his chest. [11], In his rookie year, the Kings, with a roster that included newcomers Williams, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojakovi, turned into a playoff contender. In a panicked 911 call, Williams' brother claimed Costas Christofi "picked up a loaded gun" and accidentally "shot [himself] in the chest." He averaged 11 points per game over eight NBA seasons playing for five different teams, including the 1997 NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. [16], On January 11, 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. The NBA does not release details of violations of the anti-drug program. 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. He was eligible for parole in 18 months. Even though hes battled his way to sobriety since his playing days, he suffered many challenges in his younger years. NBA. Ex-NBA Star Jayson Williams Shoots Limo Driver Gus Christofi | Crime News We had a guy suffering from agoraphobia. That further supported the theory that the crime scene had been tampered with before authorities arrived. Also, he is known as White Chocolate. The Real Reason You Don't Hear From Jason Segel Anymore - NickiSwift.com After Memphis was swept by the Phoenix Suns in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Williams was reportedly involved in an altercation with Geoff Calkins, a columnist for the Commercial Appeal. 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. That wasnt what made him feel fulfilled in life. St. Johns legend and Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, a recovering alcoholic, reached out to help. [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. (There is) nothing I can do or say to bring Mr. Christofi back. As I got to see it and experience it, it really took off in my mind. (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. What Jayson Williams' Life In Prison Was Really Like THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. Kevin Durant slams ESPN's Jay Williams for his 'f-kin lie' He pled guilty to aggravated assaultin 2010 and served a 27-month prison sentence. That's my only job, just to be sober. Williams started at point guard for the Heat in the 200506 campaign, playing a total of 59 games due to a knee injury but placing second only to Dwyane Wade in minutes per game. The gun discharged, sending the fatal buckshot into the drivers stomach. There were multiple examples of reckless conduct with mishandling firearms, said Errickson. Skydiving, were talking about overcoming fears. In the playoffs his averages were lower than the regular season, but he scored in double figures 11 times in the post-season including 21 points on 10 of 11 shooting in Game 6 of the Eastern Finals against the Detroit Pistons. If there was I would do it, Williams said. The facility, which is accredited by the state through Futures, provides help for substance abuse and mental health issues. In every way, shape, and form, it looked like a bright future for Williams and the Nets. And now he was sequestered at a cabin in the Catskills, drinking himself into oblivion. I was humbled.". Jason Chandler Williams (born November 18, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for twelve seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. While Williams was holding the gun it went off and Christofi was shot in the chest. In 1996-97, he averaged a career-high 13.4 points despite shooting an underwhelming 40.9% from the field. The witnesses were all given immunity for their cooperation and agreed to testify in court. He shot himself!. 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 . Help us maintain a respectful and inclusive community. Williams also received an All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. WHAT HAPPENED TO JASON WILLIAM'S STAR SON?! FROM "WHITE - YouTube 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. [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. "[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". Jayson Williams playing basketball at the Rebound Futures rehab facility. 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 . Williams frequently references his late father, E.J., and some of the folksy logic and advice (If you wake up and think you know it all, youve got a problem) he imparted. Along the way, Williams checks in with past teammates (they are not called patients or clients) on his cellphone. Gee, those were the best times. Stroud was once favored to be the top player chosen in this year's draft. At the time of his injury, Williams had been averaging 8.1 points and 12.0 rebounds. The following season, on October 31, 1997, Williams set a franchise record with 17 offensive rebounds (20 total) in an opening night 97-95 win over the Indiana Pacers. As recounted by a letter Ching sent to NBA commissioner David Stern, Williams retaliated against heckling made by Ching and his party midway through the first half. They found that the gun had been wiped clean. VIDEO: Jason Williams is still living up to 'White Chocolate' nickname Additionally, general manager Geoff Petrie was concerned that Williams had not developed into a more complete point guard. Williams allegedly jumped into a swimming pool to clean himself, changed clothes, wiped down the shotgun and repositioned it. In return, the state changed the indictment from a charge of reckless manslaughter to a charge of aggravated assault by recklessly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. Jayson Williams Went Through Absolute Hell and Still - Sportscasting Keeping busy is of the utmost importance. Detectives continued piecing together events by interviewing witnesses at the Mountain View Chalet, where Williams party had dined before going to his home. And I don't want to see anybody in a cage, man. The firearm was located a good distance away from him, investigators said. A life that once glittered had turned dark and murky. After inspecting the room in which he was found, they also questioned why it was filled with so many loaded firearms in unlocked cabinets. When his NBA career ended, Williams was one of the hottest commodities in Ice Cubes 3-on-3 league Big 3. Orleans Parish DA Jason Williams accuses judge of not following law On February 17, Williams attorney told the press that what occurred was a tragic accident, said Errickson. Was the the best athlete in prison recently, arguably of course Especially in there, everythings an argument. He is estranged from his two daughters, ages 16 and 15, who live with their mother in New Jersey. "There was times where [I was] losing my mind in there," Williams confessed. His teammates get a chance to know him daily. [42] Williams and his wife have three children; in his NBA profile, he listed his family as his "most treasured possession". Feed em, bathe em, and then still try to do what an 18-year-old does playing for one of the most famous universities in the world. Williams wasnt bragging, but he was proud. Williams was a kid of his own who had just signed with St. Johns and he found himself with two young children. Calkins had previously quoted Williams as saying, "I'm happy. 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. Following his retirement, Williams was charged in 2002 with the accidental shooting death of a limousine driver. However, according to the New York Post, Williams reportedly accidentally shot and killed Christofi while playing with a shotgun during a tour of his home. The victim was limousine driver Costas Gus Christofi, 55, of Washington, New Jersey. One of the firearms he showed off was a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, according to the New York Post. hristofi, who was born in Cyprus and called Gussy by loved ones, was invited in. The group was driven by limo back to the house and Williams was showing off his gun collection, according to ESPN. 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. [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. What happened to Jason Williams? : nba - Reddit He was released on $250,000 cash bail. Known as one of the best passers in the league, Williams was often over-shadowed by other league stars in their prime. Rather than dwell on the harsh realities, he dives deeper into his calling. [35] The rest of the season was fully guaranteed, with a player option for the second year of the contract. Sources said that Williams screamed in Calkins' ear and took his pen away from him. Investigators leaned on the witnesses in the home by filing obstruction of justice charges. It wasn't a self-inflicted gunshot.. Under the plea deal, Williams could have been sentenced to anywhere from 18 months without the possibility of parole to five years in prison. Former NBA star Jayson Williams gets five-year sentence in shooting - CNN Jaxon, who is 17 years old, is now following in his father's footsteps and is playing basketball and baseball in the college league. To most of the people that come, Im a warning or an example, Williams said. Six years passed while both sides prepared for a second trial. The blood-stained hidden clothes were handed over to police. [book 1] The book, intended largely to be a humorous recollection of Williams's life in the NBA, was later cited as containing nine separate anecdotes involving his tendency to play with guns, including one where football player Wayne Chrebet is nearly shot and one where the uncle of Manute Bol is threatened with an unloaded handgun. While doing so, he also had adopted his sisters children and had to make sure they were getting their education as well. One was former Jets great and NFL Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, who brought kindly spiritual advice and hope. Detectives tested the weapon for fingerprints. Two years later, he was accused of firing a semiautomatic weapon into the parking lot at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. During Williams own rehab, he saw areas for improvement and developed ideas for what would become his Rebound program. All Rights Reserved. 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! Had he pulled the trigger himself, the blast would have been at an angle. Williams was charged in an eight-count indictment. 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. "I was the one who helped broker the deal this summer", O'Neal said (in 2005) of the five-team, 13-player trade that brought Williams to Miami. Williams married Kellie Batiste in December 1999; they divorced soon afterward. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. These players included: Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Kobe Bryant. 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. Jason Chandler Williams (born November 18, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for twelve seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. "[12], Despite his NBA success, Williams preferred to stay out of the spotlight and live a low-key lifestyle, spending time with his family. Relating specifically to the shooting incident, Williams went on to say "I struggle with the loss of lives. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. On January 11, 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Williams married Denika Kisty, a University of Florida alumna, a former member of the Florida Gators track and field team, and an All-American javelin thrower. Fallen Nets star Jayson Williams dreams of - New York Daily News I truly believe its the most critical component of what we do. Jayson Williams Larry Marano. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. [27] Orlando was also located just south of Gainesville, where he had gone to college. Will we ever see Williams in the front office for the Kings or any other organization? Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Once at the restaurant, the men racked up a significant liquor bill. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Williams spent the remainder of his career with the Nets and was an All-Star in 1998. Hes had all the money in the world and everything: cash, fame, money, power. As the evening continued, Williams invited his guests to check out his gun collection in his mansions master bedroom.Prosecutors allege that soon after, he took out a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, and, with it pointed toward Christofi, yanked it upward. I love helping people get better. [30] Young was a cast member of VH1's reality TV show Basketball Wives: LA. They both started using drugs intravenously and both my sisters caught the AIDS virus. [31][32] He was granted his release from the team on January 26, 2011. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Christofi then drove some of the group back to Williams estate, where he was invited inside. Williams. Throughout his entire career, Williams continued to be known for his assists and for his creativity. 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. 10. "There's not an hour goes by where I don't think about the destruction I've caused," he shared. Jay Williams on motorcycle accident: 'I threw away everything' I dont know if it helps me deal with it, Williams said, but it helps me not to remember it.. The point guard suffered a severed nerve in his leg, a fractured pelvis, and three torn ligaments in his knee, including his ACL. On February 14, 2002, Williams shot and killed his limousine driver, Costas Gus Christofi. Where Are They Now? JASON WILLIAMS - YouTube I have not learned with my own family to make it work. A one-time NBA All-Star with the New Jersey Nets, Williams career got cut short by a devastating leg injury. Take a chance on a genius. Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes. He got a bottle. On April 30, 2004, after a three-month trial, he was acquitted of the most serious charge, aggravated manslaughter, but convicted of four cover-up charges. He was released from prison in April 2012. Williams tearfully apologized to the. Those who have the opportunity to and are interested, I would like for them to get to know Jayson because hes pretty dynamic.. The reason for her partial absence isn't some big scandal or cancelation. Jameson Williams - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports A lot of people have. [3], Williams originally committed to play college basketball for Providence College, but instead chose to attend Marshall University after Providence coach Rick Barnes left for Clemson. His struggles contributed to the Heat being swept by the Bulls in four games in the first round of the playoffs. Just for him to get there is a huge accomplishment, because I grew up in a family with a father who was severely addicted to alcohol and drugs, and I know how difficult that can be. The fatal shooting occurred in the bedroom of Williams home. One of the biggest things that causes people to relapse is boredom. His post-NBA life has not been near as exciting as his basketball career, but it is safe to say that Jason Williams is enjoying every minute of it spent with his wife of 18 years and his kids. He was never criminally charged in either case. Create a personalized profile and stay informed with tailored email notifications. A 911 caller reported a suicide at a star athlete's home. Williams' father, Elijah Joshua Williams, died of a stroke at the age of 76 in November 2009. He became a limo driver not long before his death. Williams underwent intense physical therapy to regain the use of his left leg; leaving his basketball career in peril. In fact, it's incredibly normal. [33], Williams signed a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on February 7, 2011,[34] returning to the team where he was their all-time assists leader (since surpassed by Mike Conley). RELATED: Most Shocking 'Accident, Suicide Or Murder' Reveals. The Ohio State defensive tackle recorded a sack as the Buckeyes recorded a three-and-out, adding to the . He was released in April 2012. I had like an 11-year-old and like a seven-year-old. [book 2] The book includes revelations about being abused as a child. 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. [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. 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. He even wiped the shotguns stock and put it in Christofis hands to make it appear as though the gunshot was self-inflicted. Then came the game-changers who continue to play huge roles in Williams recovery. Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on January 11, 2010. People need to wake up. Gus was lying on the floor with a blood-soaked shirt and clearly deceased, said Katharine Errickson, former Asst. Stay up to date with NFL player news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports. Why Allison Williams Kept Turning Down Blumhouse Movies - TheThings [41], Williams' nickname was "White Chocolate". Two days after his death, the medical examiners autopsy revealed that he had been shot straight into his chest. [18] In 2002, Grizzlies' general manager Jerry West hired Hubie Brown out of retirement to coach the team. Several months ago, Rebound merged with the expansive Futures Recovery Healthcare System which, among other things, means more people seeking help. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. [26] The move reunited Williams with Stan Van Gundy, his former coach in Miami, who pushed the team to make the signing. He even has his three childrens names tattooed on his forearm. "I started going over not long after I got here," said Williams, who has always said he likes to be around kids. Jay Williams was sitting on top of the world in June 2003. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. Only that wouldnt be the last time wed hear from him. Williams earned the nickname "White Chocolate" due to. [28] On September 29, he had arthroscopic knee surgery,[29] though he was still able to play the season-opener on October 28.

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