NBA.com: Jayson Williams Bio

A hustling 6-10 forward/center, Jayson Williams has provided valuable rebounding and defense as a popular, high-energy player who became an All-Star for the New Jersey Nets in 1997-98. He came into his own in 1995-96, when he ranked 10th in the NBA in rebounding at 10.0 rpg, even though he averaged fewer than 24 minutes per game. He was doing even better in 1996-97, averaging 13.4 ppg and 13.5 rpg, but missed most of the second half of the season because of injuries. He came back with an All-Star campaign, averaging 12.9 ppg and 13.6 rpg (second in the NBA) in 1997-98 and helping the Nets to an NBA Playoff berth, but missed the last 20 games of the 1998-99 season due to a broken leg. Born in Ritter, South Carolina, he attended high school in New York and went to college at St. John's. After finishing his college career with three-year averages of 14.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. But prior to the 1990-91 season, the Suns traded his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. Williams was plagued by injuries during the first three years of his career, and after two seasons with Philadelphia he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. He missed 67 games in 1992-93 because of a dislocated ankle. Healthy for most of the following two seasons, he showed a knack for grabbing rebounds in limited minutes, averaging 5.7 rpg in 13.1 mpg in 1994-95 and nearly doubling that in 1995-96. He became a full-time starter in 1996-97 and improved his averages to career-highs of 13.4 points and 13.5 rebounds, but was limited to just 41 games because of injuries, including sprained ligaments in his right thumb that eventually required season-ending surgery. Had he played enough to qualify, he would have ranked second in the NBA in rebounding. In 1997-98 Williams became an All-Star for the first time in his eight-year career, ranking second in the NBA at 13.6 rpg (first in offensive rebounds) and leading the young Nets to the playoffs. He was averaging 8.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game through 30 games of the 1998-99 campaign when he suffered a displaced tibial plateau fracture in his right leg. He underwent season-ending surgery on April 2.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Expected to be out until January after having surgery on his right knee on 9/14

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Named to the 1998-99 NBA All-Interview First Team for the second consecutive season Placed on the injured list on 4/6 after suffering a displaced tibaial plateau fracture in his right leg during a 90-85 win over the Atlanta Hawks on 4/1 and is sidelined indefinitely Posted 16 points (7-9 FG) and game-highs of 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3/27 Grabbed a game-high 21 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, and added 6 points in an 88-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks on 3/17 Registered team-highs of 23 points (10-16 FG), 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots against the Chicago Bulls on 3/9 Recorded 10 points and a game-high 16 rebounds in a 99-97 victory over the Boston Celtics on 3/1 Totaled 15 points (7-10 FG), a game-high 15 rebounds and a career-high 6 blocked shots against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/24 Posted 17 points (6-8 FG, 5-6 FT) and game-highs of 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots against the Indiana Pacers on 2/21

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Named to the 1997-98 NBA All-Interview First Team Placed on the injured list on 4/15 after suffering a fracture of the first metacarpal in his right thumb against the Boston Celtics on 3/27 and missed the remainder of the regular season Recorded 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds against the Washington Wizards on 3/22 On the injured list from 3/8 to 3/19 due to a strained right abdominal muscle Posted 20 points, a game-high 16 rebounds and 3 assists in a 102-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on 2/27 Grabbed a game-high 24 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, and added 5 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on 2/21 Totaled 17 points and a game-high 24 rebounds in a 105-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on 2/14 Registered 4 points and 10 rebounds, in his All-Star debut, in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York Named NBA Player of the Week for the week ending 1/25, averaging 18.3 ppg and 17.8 rpg, and shooting .604 from the field, for the 2-2 Nets Recorded team-highs of 23 points and 23 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, against the Chicago Bulls on 1/23 Posted game-highs of 25 points (11-16 FG) and 19 rebounds in a 117-112 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets on 1/21 Totaled 15 points, a game-high 23 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, and 3 assists in a 97-81 win over the Atlanta Hawks on 1/17 Registered 20 points and a game-high 18 rebounds against the L.A. Clippers on 1/15 Recorded game-highs of 23 points (9-12 FG, 5-6 FT), 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in an 81-68 win over the Charlotte Hornets on 1/13 Posted 19 points and a game-high 22 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, in a 99-91 win over the Washington Wizards on 12/29 Totaled 10 points and game-highs of 22 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in a 112-104 double-overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 12/27 Registered 13 points, a game-high 22 rebounds and 3 assists in a 105-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons on 12/17 Recorded 18 points and 22 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, in a 133-95 win over the Denver Nuggets on 12/13 Posted 20 points (8-11 FG, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds and 3 steals in a 107-88 win over the Phildelphia 76ers on 12/5 Grabbed a game-high 24 rebounds, including 9 offensive boards, and added 4 points and 3 assists against the Seattle SuperSonics on 12/3 Totaled game-highs of 27 points (8-12 FG) and 13 rebounds in a 108-100 victory over the Boston Celtics on 11/19 Grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, and scored 13 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 11/13 Registered 18 points, a game-high 20 rebounds and 3 steals in a 97-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers on 10/31

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
Williams tried to stop being a part-time player in 1996-97, but injuries got in his way. He missed a total of 41 games--seven with sprained ligaments in his right thumb, 10 with a bruised right knee and the final 24 when he had surgery to repair the ligaments in his thumb. In the 41 games he played, all but one as a starter, Williams averaged career-highs of 13.4 points and 13.5 minutes in 34.9 minutes. He would have ranked second in the NBA in rebounding if he had qualified for the leader list. He reached double figures in rebounds 32 times, including each of his first 16 games. He grabbed 20+ rebounds four times including a season-high 24, plus 28 points, in a 106-95 overtime win at the Clippers on Nov. 30. The 24 rebounds were one shy of his career-high, while the 28 points represented a season-high. That was one of 24 double-doubles he had for the season. Williams scored 20 points or more seven times, including three games in a row in mid-January. He posted career-highs of 17 defensive rebounds against the Clippers on Nov. 30 and 15 offensive rebounds against the Timberwolves on Jan. 9.

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
One of the most remarkable players in the NBA, Williams ranked 10th in the league in rebounding at 10.0 boards per game even though he played an average of just 23.2 minutes per game, primarily as a frontcourt reserve. His average of one rebound per 2.3 minutes of action ranked just behind NBA rebounding king Dennis Rodman's average of one rebound per 2.2 minutes. And Williams' total of 342 offensive rebounds was the second-highest total in the league, behind only Rodman's 356. Despite his limited playing time, the high-energy Williams reached double figures in rebounding 40 times and had 17 double-doubles. Williams appeared in 80 games for the Nets, making six starts, and contributed 9.0 points per game in addition to his outstanding board work, solid defense and all-out hustle. He scored a career-high 35 points at Atlanta on March 20 and established another career high with 25 rebounds at Seattle on Jan. 30. Moreover, Williams' work ethic and enthusiasm were welcomed by a team in transition, one which underwent significant personnel changes throughout the season and concluded the campaign with a coaching change. Nets management was counting on Williams to be a major part of the team's rebuilding.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
Williams was an effective rebounder off the bench in 1994-95. Although he played just 13.1 minutes per contest, he pulled down an impressive 5.7 rebounds per game to tie for fourth on the club. His rate of 1 rebound every 2.3 minutes compared favorably with the league leaders: Shaquille O'Neal, who finished third in the league in rebounds, averaged 1 board every 3.2 minutes; No. 5 David Robinson averaged 1 rebound every 3.5 minutes. For the season, Williams appeared in a career-high 75 games and scored 4.8 points per outing, also a career high.

1993-1994 REGULAR SEASON
Previously plagued by injuries, Williams remained relatively healthy in his fourth NBA season and became a valuable frontcourt reserve for New Jersey Nets Coach Chuck Daly. In a career-high 70 appearances, Williams contributed 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. Williams had several games to remember during the 1993-94 season, including a career-high 19-point effort against the Boston Celtics on April 5. He hauled down 11 rebounds twice during the year, including a January 16 win over the Utah Jazz.

1992-1993 REGULAR SEASON
As training camp began, the Sixers traded Williams to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for future draft choices. The move didn't pan out for either the player or the team, however, as Williams missed 67 games because of a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. In his 12 appearances, Williams averaged 4.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game. The Nets reached the NBA Playoffs for the second straight season, but Williams was left off the team's postseason roster.

1991-1992 REGULAR SEASON
Williams again played a reserve role for the Sixers, appearing in 50 games and averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds. He recorded 20 steals and 20 blocks for the season but shot only .364 from the field. The Sixers struggled during the 1991-92 season, finishing 35-47 and out of the NBA Playoffs.

1990-1991 REGULAR SEASON
Although his dream of playing for his hometown New York Knicks hasn't yet been fulfilled, Jayson Williams has been able to experience the next best thing. By playing across the Hudson River with the New Jersey Nets, Williams can perform before his family and friends, just like he did while at St. John's University. Williams showed flashes of brilliance during his junior season at St. John's. An All-Big East Conference selection, he averaged 19.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, leading the Redmen to the 1989 National Invitation Tournament title and earning tournament MVP honors. Needless to say, Williams entered his senior season as a big-time NBA prospect. But when he suffered a broken foot after only 13 games, sidelining him for the rest of the year, his draft stock began to fall. Even so, the Phoenix Suns selected Williams with the 21st overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Then, just days before the start of the 1990-91 season, Phoenix traded his draft rights to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 1993 first-round pick. Williams appeared in 52 games as a rookie, averaging 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds as a reserve behind Charles Barkley in the Sixers' frontcourt.