What happened to flashy NBA point guard Jason Williams? Rocky starts and brilliant finishes

Few players come into the lives of basketball fans with the prospects of delivering highlight reel plays below the rim. Jason Williams, otherwise known as “White Chocolate”, is on that short list. He had an infinite bag of tricks on the floor, but had to overcome some hurdles and alter his style of play to reach the mountain top.

Jason Chandler Williams was born in Belle, West Virginia in 1975. He fell in love with the bouncing basketball at an early age, and spent a lot of time honing his craft around the neighborhood. He dribbled with weights on his wrists, and would practice pinpoint passing by hitting small marks of tape against a gym wall.

Williams’ father was a state trooper who had the keys to the local high school gym, which allowed his son to ball as much as his heart desired. On the court and on the football field, Williams made friends with another budding athlete named Randy Moss. The future NFL Hall of Famer and future NBA player delighted fans with some thrilling plays in both sports.

Williams had a ton of athletic potential, but his college plans were derailed after Providence head coach Rick Barnes left the school that the high school phenom committed to. Williams pivoted by staying local and attending Marshall University in West Virginia. Thundering Herd coach Billy Donovan let the point guard do this thing, and Williams did not disappoint.

Williams followed Donovan to the University of Florida, but his career with the Gators was filled with turmoil off the floor. He had a difficult time sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, and was suspended three times during his time in Gainesville. That last strike kicked him off the team for good in the 1997-1998 campaign.

His basketball ability wasn’t in question, but his attitude and commitment to the sport perhaps contributed to a minor slide in the 1998 NBA Draft. The Sacramento Kings scooped Williams up with the seventh overall pick, and it turned out to be a steal. The franchise has struggled for much of the 1990’s, but Williams’ play helped elevate the Kings from the basement of the Western Conference.

As the internet started to become popular in the late 1990’s, clips of Williams’ dazzling exploits became high priority content. There wasn’t a behind-the-back pass or cross court bounce that he was afraid of. Additionally, his handles were so good that he would leave All-NBA defenders like Gary Payton in the dust.

While Williams’ arrival helped Sacramento become respectable again, they opted to part ways with him in favor of a more fundamentally sound Mike Bibby. The former Florida Gator spent the next few years of his career in Memphis, playing under old school head coach Hubie Brown. Williams would learn to make the right play instead of the one that was most likely to end up on SportsCenter.

It didn’t seem like Williams’ game translated to winning at the highest level, but the Miami Heat were willing to take a chance on the unselfish floor general. Shaquille O’Neal wanted to play with someone who prioritized setting his teammates up. As a complimentary piece, Williams fit in perfectly, and was a key part of the Heat team that won the 2006 NBA title.

Williams would go on to play a couple more seasons with the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies before his career ended in 2011. The former hooper is a father to three children, and has called his kids the greatest treasure of his life. Williams also received acclaim for being a neighbor of O’Neal in Orlando after their playing careers ended.