BULLS: Season in Review: Jay Williams

Williams averaged 13.1 ppg and 4.9 apg and shot .594 from the floor over the season's final eight games.

Shows potential as a scorer and distributor in first season

Season in Review: Jay Williams

#22
Position: Guard | Height/Weight: 6-2/195
Years Pro: 1 | Born: September 10, 1981 in Plainfield, NJ
College: Duke ’02 | High School: St. Joseph’s (Metuchen, NJ)

Williams Archive:

Photo Gallery: Williams in Action

Williams Named to All-Rookie Second Team

Jay on the Web

Williams Named East's Rookie of the Month for December

Where there’s a J-Will...

Bulls Sign Williams

Williams graces cover of The Sporting News

Williams joins Sega Sports

Photo Gallery: Williams & Rose at Comiskey

Photo Gallery: 2002 Draft Picks Introduced

Williams: "This is a dream come true"

Video: Bulls draft Williams | 56k | 300k

Head Coach Bill Cartwright on Williams:
“I feel like a lot of people want to view Jay’s season as a negative one. He came in as the second pick in the draft and there were high expectations for him. What we basically talked about is to keep working hard and learning how to get better. I think we really saw some signs at the end of the season that better basketball is ahead. Sometimes it just takes guys a little longer to figure things out. It took Jamal some time to figure out what we needed from him. But Jay’s potential is tremendous.

He’s quick, he’s strong, he can pass, he’s really faster than blazes and he can shoot the ball when he’s relaxed. This summer he’s got to dedicate himself to playing and relaxing. He needs to play how he can play. We’re really excited to get him back on the floor and going in his second season to where he can really utilize his skills and show everyone that he’s really darn good.”

2002.03 Season Notes:
Appeared in 75 games, making 54 starts in rookie NBA season. … Averaged 9.5 ppg (ninth among NBA rookies), 4.7 apg (leading NBA rookies and 27th in the NBA), 2.6 rpg and 1.15 spg (second on the Bulls), shooting .399 from the floor, .322 from three-point range and .640 from the free throw line. … Set Bulls all-time rookie record for three-point field goals, making 65 to rank third on the team. … Posted 36 double-digit scoring efforts, including six games of 20+ points. … Posted three double-doubles, including one triple-double. … Played 40+ minutes on two occasions and had 27 games of 30+ minutes. … Had 16 games with multiple three-point field goals. … Scored 13 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes in his NBA debut at Boston (10/30). … Authored his first career triple-double, recording season highs of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in 45 minutes versus New Jersey (11/9). … The game was the Bulls’ first triple-double since 1998. … Scored 20 points at Milwaukee (11/13). … Scored 12 points with 12 assists versus Memphis (11/16). … Scored 10 points and swiped a season-high 6 steals at the L.A. Lakers (11/22). … Scored 14 points and dealt 13 assists with 5 rebounds versus Indiana (12/21). … Scored 23 points versus San Antonio (12/28). … Scored 20 points in 36 minutes in road victory at Cleveland (2/18). … Scored 23 points with 8 assists in 32 minutes off the bench at Philadelphia (4/2). … Scored 19 points with 7 assists in 28 minutes versus Milwaukee (4/5). … Missed two games with a sprained left ankle (1/6, 1/10). … Missed five games on the IL with a sprained left ankle (1/20-1/29).

Williams' Season Highs:
Points: 26 vs. New Jersey (November 9, 2002)
Rebounds: 14 vs. New Jersey (November 9, 2002)
Assists: 13 two times
Blocks: 2 vs. New Orleans (December 3, 2002)
Steals: 6 at L.A. Lakers (November 22, 2002)

Williams in Action:
56k | 300k

At his best:
On November 9, with Jason Kidd and the reigning Eastern Conference champions in town, Williams authored his first career triple-double, recording season highs of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in 45 minutes. He hit 10-of-22 shots from the field, was 4-of-10 from three point range and also swiped a pair of steals that evening as the Bulls won, 100-93.

"I was just out there playing," Williams said after the game. "I did not even realize (about the triple-double). If we don't win the game, it does not matter to me."

Career Notes:
Showed potential as a scorer and distributor in rookie NBA season. … Named NBA got milk? Rookie of the Month in December after averaging 11.6 ppg and 6.3 apg, shooting .425 from the floor and .340 from the free throw line. … Enters the 2003-04 campaign after averaging 13.1 ppg and 4.9 apg, shooting .594 from the floor, .688 from three-point range and .800 from the free throw line over the final eight games of 2002-03.

Live and Learn:
“I think last year was just too long for him," Cartwright said of some of the struggles Williams faced in his first NBA campaign. "He went from school, to playing on the [USA] team and right to us and he never really had a summer. So he was tired. It was too much for him to handle, just too much. Veterans have the same anticipation of the season, and they know what to expect so their bodies are rested. A big part of this league, as you look at guys like Steve Nash, Gary Payton and Jason Kidd, is having experience. Those guys weren’t starters their first couple of years. The point guard spot is very tough to play, especially in your rookie season. But I know Jay has the character to keep working and get to where he needs to be.”

Williams' Career Statistics