<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The former No. 2 overall draft pick sat out the past three years while recovering from a motorcycle crash. He's back on the NBA radar, though, having already worked out for the Toronto Raptors. Griz executives are exploring an opportunity for Williams to work out for them some time after the pre-draft camp concludes at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Griz spent most of the past two weeks watching "combo" guards in their private, FedExForum workouts. Last year's corps included Bobby Jackson, Chucky Atkins and Antonio Burks -- each of whom are free agents. Williams appears fit but observers say he still must prove he's ready to return to the league. In June 2003, Williams crashed his new motorcycle into a light pole, fracturing his pelvis, tearing knee ligaments and damaging nerves in his left leg. He hasn't played in the NBA since. The Chicago Bulls waived him in February of 2004 after reaching a settlement on his contract. </div> Source
What the guy did was dumb considering he was under contract, but with all his hard work to rehab and all he's been through he deserves to be successful. It's one of the untalked about things that athletes have to, which is give up certain freedoms like motorcycle riding or water skiing or anything recreational that is dangerous (mostly anything that is fun). That's why they get all that money. They can't live like normal people in the prime of their youth. They have to go out there and entertain and make money for people with millions of dollars.
The only things that I'm questioning about Jay Williams right now are his speed, quickness, agility, and explosiveness. When he was in college, that was his whole game, his explosiveness. He had a nice jumper, but it was inconsistent, both in terms of making it falls and keeping consistent with mechanics. So if his physical advantages of speed, quickness, etc. are gone, then so is his game as far as I'm concerned. He also never seemed like much of a "true" point guard, which is what we're looking for. With his quick first step, he really looked to take his man one on one a lot and played with that score-first mentality. I can't really complain though, because anyone looks good after the Bobby Jackson/Chucky Atkins season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">What the guy did was dumb considering he was under contract, but with all his hard work to rehab and all he's been through he deserves to be successful. It's one of the untalked about things that athletes have to, which is give up certain freedoms like motorcycle riding or water skiing or anything recreational that is dangerous (mostly anything that is fun). That's why they get all that money. They can't live like normal people in the prime of their youth. They have to go out there and entertain and make money for people with millions of dollars.</div> True but how many young guys are gonna stop and think "wait, what if i get hurt". seriously we think we are invincible at a young age.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">True but how many young guys are gonna stop and think "wait, what if i get hurt". seriously we think we are invincible at a young age.</div> The reason that adolescents often make emotionally based decisions instead of evaluating the consequences is because their brain's frontal lobe has yet to reach its full growth potential. Jay Williams, on the other hand, as a twenty-something year old man should have the ability to stop and think about the results of his actions. If you're an investment worth millions of dollars like Jay Williams was, then it's your obligation to stop and think about those things. You're not forced into your contract; you sign it.
From what I have heard from ACTUAL Raptors insiders (I'm talking about the massage therapist who has sat in on all of the workouts) is that Jay Williams is back. He is not the same explosive athlete but he has blown everyone away with his improved shooting ability and somewhat "cerebral" play. In other words...he has actually turned into more of a true point guard. I hope the Raptors can grab him for the veteran minimum. I would rather have a Jay williams coming back for a motorcycle injury then Mike James coming back from an ego trip.
