<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">August 1, 2004 -- STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Jay Williams stepped back onto a basketball court last week. He barked orders to his teammates on where to position themselves, made some nifty passes and even sunk a half-court shot. He looked back at home with a basketball in his hand. Thirteen months after nearly losing his life in a motorcycle accident, the former Duke star was not in the middle of an NBA summer-league game or even a pick-up game with friends. He was working with campers at the "Jay Williams Basketball School," held last week in the Poconos. For Williams, it was another step in the process of getting back to the NBA, which he describes as "slow" and "tedious." A year ago, Williams was lying in a hospital bed in Chicago while his basketball camp went on without him. He could not think about playing basketball. First, he had to learn to walk again. "It's been a journey," Williams said. "It's been a battle." The journey began June 19, 2003. Williams, the No. 2-overall pick by the Bulls in the 2002 draft, lost control of his new Yamaha Sportbike on Chicago's North Side, struck a utility pole and badly damaged his left leg. He began rehabilitating the leg and has progressed to where he can now jog. "The first time I started running, I only ran about a minute and a half and I was so winded because I hadn't run in a year," Williams said of that workout in June. "My heart felt it like was coming out of my skin." Williams, 22, wants to return to the NBA, but he is not putting a timetable on it. If his progress continues like it has, he could be ready for the second half of next season. The Bulls placed Williams on waivers and bought out the remaining $7.7 million on his contract for $3 million. Williams has said he will give the team the first shot at his services when he is ready to return. After leaving the hospital, Williams returned to Durham, N.C., where he starred for the Blue Devils and led them to the 2001 national championship. He calls Durham his "workplace," a place where he can avoid distractions. He speaks with Mike Krzyzewski often and said the coach has given him advice throughout his rehab. He also speaks with another Duke point guard whose pro career was cut short by an accident - Bobby Hurley. Williams does not beat himself up anymore about the accident but still feels remorse. He has learned to see the positive that has come from it. "I think I'm much more grounded," the Plainfield, N.J. native said. "To be honest with you, when you're in the NBA, you move so fast. Things come and go. Women come and go. People come and go. You meet so many people that are in your life because they want something quick. The next moment they're gone. For me, my injury helped me find my foundation." That foundation includes his girlfriend and his parents, as well as a close group of friends who have stuck by him through the past year. "For me, it's great to finally realize these are the people who care about me more than anybody," Williams said. "These are the people who stuck by me through rough times. I just really take my time and look at people differently now. There have been some people that came into my life who have disappeared in the past year. It's crazy." A year ago, Williams could not make it to his camp and had to send his business manager Kevin Bradbury to speak to the campers on his behalf. This year, Williams was there to give the campers his message on his own. He spent the week teaching, kidding and coaching the campers. His friend and former Duke teammate Chris Duhon came to the camp to help Williams. Duhon, who was drafted by the Bulls in June, said Williams' accident is a lesson for any professional athlete. "It's an eye-opener," Duhon said. "You could say it was his fault. Why get on a motorcycle? You've got to remember we're still young. We're still adventurous. There's a lot of things we want to do ... It lets you know anything can happen any day. You've got to be prepared for it. Live life to the fullest but be smart in the decisions you make." Williams left Duke after three years, and was applauded for doing so with a degree. He wanted a backup plan, just in case things didn't work out in the NBA. But Williams never expected to need it. "Basketball was my life," Williams said. "That's all I've ever known since I was a little boy. I definitely took time to prepare in school because I knew there were more things I wanted to in my life than just basketball. You prepare for it, but you never really think it can become a reality. Being 21 years old, you feel like you're invincible. It was great because I found out I'm just like everybody else. I can still get hurt. I can still mess up and make mistakes. I think right now that I'm just learning from my mistake." </div> This is great news I was always a big fan of Jay Williams to here he is making great progress just shows how good a attitude he has. He will be a big part of the bulls playoff run if he comes back. Although he is not signed by the bulls at this point his loyalty is with them for having stuck with him through the tough times. He did have a triple double his first nba game and was ALL rookie second team in the NBA. He had a great career in front of him cant wait to see him back in the nba. He probable wont get much playing time unless the bulls waive pargo/ or duhon when he comes back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tripl3:</div><div class="quote_post">is he still under contract with the Bulls? I thought yall had cut him loose, but I could be wrong...</div> We waived him, but we're still paying him. But im glad to hear the good news, hopefully, he can have a decent carreer rather than just be a scrub on teams.
That's very good news. I would love to see him play again sometime soon. Hopefully he can come back and be productive and not have that accident completely destroy what might have been a very promising career.
