He hadnt been drinking or partying, according to a number of witnesses. It is also where he developed his love and passion for the basketball game. Jayson Williams, the former NBA All-Star, had served time in prison for the accidental shooting death of his . Then came the game-changers who continue to play huge roles in Williams recovery. Williams finished his NBA career in the top 100 in assists and 3-pointers, yet was snubbed as an all-star every year. And I think now what hes doing, I dont think he would trade for anything., The best insights from the ultimate insiders. His style of play earned him the nickname White Chocolate.. The loss of Mr. Christofi and the loss of my father. That all changed on February 14, 2001, when police were called to Williams 65-acre estate in Alexandria Township, New Jersey, after the shooting of Christofi. Oakley said he and Williams chat almost daily, and Oakley has cooked dinners at the Florida recovery center. Relating specifically to the shooting incident, Williams went on to say "I struggle with the loss of lives. A spokesman for the attorney general cited a gag order in declining to discuss the case. A guy named Sergio had stabbed her 17 times and beat her over her face with a hammer, Williams said in a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad. On February 14, 2002, Williams shot and killed his limousine driver, Costas Gus Christofi. But police uncovered a different story. That wasnt what made him feel fulfilled in life. That brought more problems in the legal system a drunk-driving episode in upstate New York and in Williams mind. I can get away with it this time. By doing these different activities, they are able to go home and find some sort of outlet.. Two years later, he was accused of firing a semiautomatic weapon into the parking lot at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The witnesses were all given immunity for their cooperation and agreed to testify in court. "There was times where [I was] losing my mind in there," Williams confessed. him. The fatal shooting occurred February 14, 2002, in the bedroom of Williams' New Jersey estate. Williams' long-term future with the team is more important than the 2022 season, so no matter when he gets back, it's good to see the team doing diligence with his recovery. If I see you with sunglasses on and its raining, Oh, theres a problem there.. The distance between Christofis body and the gun, along with the absence of a blood trail, led detectives to also have suspicions about the death being a suicide. The witness said that this happened at 2:15 am about 45 minutes before the 911 call came in at 2:54 a.m. "Forty-five minutes is a long time, but that's how long it took for them to get their stories together, said Errickson. It took eight years of legal wrangling, but Williams' attorneys managed to reduce a potential 55-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter down to five years for aggravated assault. Investigators leaned on the witnesses in the home by filing obstruction of justice charges. [18] Williams was subsequently moved on April 19, 2011,[19] to Rikers Island to serve an additional 1-year sentence for a DWI,[20] of which he served 8 months and was released from custody on April 13, 2012. , 55, of Washington, New Jersey. [8][9] In February 1998, however, the University of Florida suspended him for the remainder of the season for cannabis use, after two previous suspensions for the same infraction. Tearful, troubled ex-NBA star Jayson Williams was sentenced today to five years in prison for accidentally killing a limo driver with a shotgun in his New Jersey mansion, and for then clumsily . [24], On January 5, 2010, Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated after an early morning accident in lower Manhattan, in which he crashed his Mercedes into a tree. [29] The couple divorced in 2011. [28] On September 29, he had arthroscopic knee surgery,[29] though he was still able to play the season-opener on October 28. In the 200607 season, Williams was limited to 61 games, of which he started 55. He had one legal mess after another. Investigators looked for leads elsewhere. [4] Wiiams had three sisters, with two having passed away from AIDS (one after a blood transfusion following a mugging), while his third sister was killed by her husband in a murder-suicide. Martin first met Williams at Bible study in 2002. According to The Smoking Gun, he shot his limo driver dead in February 2002. Williams takes part, does another gym session then goes to bed around 8:30. So now there were suspicions about why they were willing to cover up what happened.. "He wanted to play with me and I wanted to play with a guard who loves to pass and I think it'll be a good combination for myself and [guard] Dwyane Wade. I love helping people get better. Stay up to date with NFL player news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. Retired NBA star Jayson Williams was freed from jail Friday after serving eight months for drunken driving in New York and 18 months before that in New Jersey on charges stemming from a limo . The following season, on October 31, 1997, Williams set a franchise record with 17 offensive rebounds (20 total) in an opening night 97-95 win over the Indiana Pacers. In March, he had 34 points versus Orlando, connecting on five three-point baskets. With this in mind, the Kings traded Williams and Nick Anderson to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price. The gun discharged, sending the fatal buckshot into the drivers stomach. They both started using drugs intravenously and both my sisters caught the AIDS virus. On February 25, Williams was charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter, as well as other charges related to tampering with evidence.Shortly thereafter, Williams was released on bail, but the investigation remained ongoing. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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On February 25, Williams was charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter, as well as other charges related to tampering with evidence. "I will try to work to make a positive contribution; that's who I am and what I want my daughters to be proud of," Williams vowed at sentencing, via The New York Post. Christofi had been hired to drive Williams and several of his friends to dinner. On April 30, 2004, after a three-month trial, he was acquitted of the most serious charge, aggravated manslaughter, but convicted of four cover-up charges. After dinner, Christofi drove them all back to the Williams'. These players included: Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Kobe Bryant. He pled guilty to aggravated assaultin 2010 and served a 27-month prison sentence. Williams said he asked to use an old volleyball net and basketball hoop, and soon physical activities entered the program. Somebody just got shot, the caller said in a recording of the report heard on, Officers arrived at the scene at the home of, Individuals at the estate directed police to an upstairs bedroom. His time with the Magic only lasted one season, and the 2010-2011 season, his final one, was spent with three different teams: Orlando, Toronto, and, finally, Memphis. White chocolate was a walking bucket@55buckets pic.twitter.com/UFnGToGaA1, White Bball Pains (@WhiteBballPains) December 19, 2020. Don't lie in the name of Kevin Durant. Everything came to a crashing halt during on April 1, 1999. Williams started his career with the Sacramento Kings being drafted 7th overall in the 1998 draft out of Florida. He underwent surgery the next day and had to have a plate and five screws inserted into his leg. On May 21, prosecutors took the first steps toward retrying Williams. Dog Shirt, who has pledged to eat a printed out photo of Segel's face every day until . What you just said could not be said any better. He was sentenced to five years in prison and served 15 months (he served an additional 12 months on a drunk-driving rap). The Heat named Williams one of their top 25 players of all time in 2007. The workout, alongside Futures CEO Sean Nasiff, continues until 6 a.m. Then comes the one-hour drive to the facility. After the 2008 season, and due to several injuries, Williams actually retired briefly before joining the Orlando Magic the very next season. Soon, though, the story changed, and witnesses began to reveal that it was actually Williams who had been holding the gun. Giving someone the tools to feel better about themselves and also learning together how to be better as people. Williams admitted he failed the check the safety mechanism of one of the guns that went off and killed Costas Christofi, the 55-year-old limo driver. [14][15] The court repeatedly delayed the retrial for a series of reasons, such as the State's 2008 appeal of a ruling relating to prosecutorial misconduct at the first trial. Several months ago, Rebound merged with the expansive Futures Recovery Healthcare System which, among other things, means more people seeking help. Well before the tragic death of Costas Christofi, Jayson Williams had suffered tremendously himself. [22], In the summer of 2008, Williams signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to a one-year deal. [33], Williams signed a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on February 7, 2011,[34] returning to the team where he was their all-time assists leader (since surpassed by Mike Conley). And thats hypocritical. During Williams own rehab, he saw areas for improvement and developed ideas for what would become his Rebound program. He shot 41.5 percent from the field, 86.3 percent from the free-throw line, and 35.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. He managed to get through the nightmare relatively unscathed, at least physically. Williams' father, Elijah Joshua Williams, died of a stroke at the age of 76 in November 2009. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder definitely didnt make an impact right away. Jason Williams on the origin of the "White Chocolate" nickname #KGArea21 pic.twitter.com/UGljSpSaQW, KG's Area 21 (@KGArea21) February 3, 2017. Theres breakfast with a goal-setting session, plus a daily check-in for past members through a video-messaging app. He was released in April 2012. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. A 911 caller reported a suicide at a star athlete's home. On the night before his first college basketball game before he started for Duke at Madison Square Garden, before he became a national . Williams was a kid of his own who had just signed with St. Johns and he found himself with two young children. One of the firearms he showed off was a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, according to the New York Post. At his sentencing hearing, Jayson Williams apologized to Christofis family and said, Theres not a day I wake up and I dont feel sorry for what I did to Mr. Christofi.. Its to build trust between us and the teammate because Jay and I do it with them, Nasiff said. But I have not done a good job as a father. Jason Williams Jason Chandler Williams (White Chocolate, J-Dub, J-Will, White Folks, The White Shadow, Duck, Showtime) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-1 , 190lb (185cm, 86kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2006 NBA Champ 1998-99 All-Rookie 55 2 2 55 55 44 3 SUMMARY Career G 788 PTS 10.5 TRB 2.3 AST 5.9 FG% 39.8 FG3% 32.7 FT% 81.3 He was also known for taking spectacular three-point shots that drove home audiences wild. Williams re-signed with the team on August 3, 2010. In 1996, Williams proposed during halftime of a nationally televised basketball game to model Cynthia Bailey. During his rookie year, the PR department of the Sacramento Kings gave him the nickname. The group was driven by limo back to the house and Williams was showing off his gun collection, according to ESPN. My dad had never been in the hospital in 70 years. His childhood comprised unbelievable levels of horror and trauma. After inspecting the room in which he was found, they also questioned why it was filled with so many loaded firearms in unlocked cabinets. A fan recently tagged Williams in a tweet about him joining the Kings front office and he replied with interest. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Current one is: May 1. I cannot shake it. "My brain was worse than [either facility]," a visibly emotional Williams claimed in an interview with Vlad TV. One person finally came. On February 14, 2002, 55-year-old limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi was shot and killed at Williams's estate in Alexandria Township, New Jersey. And while nobody would confuse Jayson Williams as the next Shaquille ONeal, he still became a key player for the Nets after entering the NBA as the 21st overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the 76ers. Help us maintain a respectful and inclusive community. My second sister, Sissy, she started trying to help my sister, soothe her, and started doing drugs with my sister, who got hooked on heroin before all the painkillers they were giving her, he said. Six years passed while both sides prepared for a second trial. the early morning hours of February 14, 2002, a panicked 911 call was made from a residence in quiet Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Help others and be remembered for something other than the shooting and the cover-up. Christofi was fatally shot on. 10. One person finally cameforward. Everything came to a crashing halt during on April 1, 1999. After his first stint in Memphis, he joined forces with Shaq and Dwyane Wade in Miami for three seasons where he won his only NBA title. Since August 2020, Williams has also co-hosted ESPN Radio's weekday morning show, Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin, with Keyshawn Johnson and Zubin Mehenti - which became Keyshawn, JWill and Max with . He was eligible for parole in 18 months. Theyre like, I was bored. (CNN) -- Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for the fatal shooting of his limo driver in 2002. District Attorney, Hunterdon County. In his later years with Memphis and Miami, he significantly tamed his extravagant playing style and consistently achieved one of the highest assists per turnover ratios in the NBA. In fact, he started just nine games for the 76ers before the franchise traded their disappointing former first-round pick to the Nets for a conditional draft choice. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic throughout his career. He crawled into the Catskills cabin, apparently intent on destroying his liver. Allison Williams only has a few credits on her IMDb between 2017's Get Out and 2023's M3GAN. FROM "WHITE CHOCOLATE JR." TO?. Williams married Kellie Batiste in December 1999; they divorced soon afterward. He pleaded guilty last month to aggravated assault in the 2002 shooting death of Christofi, a limo driver he had hired. Though he had several brushes with the law, Williams was better known for his affable demeanor and off-the-court charity and youth work, and was widely praised for taking in his nephews after two of his sisters died of AIDS. That further supported the theory that the crime scene had been tampered with before authorities arrived. A NEW ORLEANS JUDGE ACCUSED OF FAILING TO FOLLOW THE LAW DISTRICT ATTORNEY JASON WILLIAMS MADE THE EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS AFTER JUDGE KIM HOLMES DELAYED THE TRIAL BY NEARLY A YEAR FOR THE TEEN'S . 2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics. Jimmy Butler Vs Paul George: (Who's Better?). I asked Oak, What were you going to do with that bat? He said, I was going to do whatever I had to do to get you in that truck to get you down to Florida to go to treatment.. 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. Living with a professional athlete isn't always as glamorous as society makes it out to be, according to "Basketball Wives" star Tanya Young Williams. Williams then tried to get rid of the evidence, including stripping off his own clothes and jumping into a pool to wash the blood off. In the 200708 season, Williams played 67 games while averaging 8.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. ", "Clip of the Morning: Jason Williams Breaks Out the Elbow Pass to Scottie Pippen", "2008 University of Florida Track and Field Media Guide", "On the record: Williams grows into a Grizzlies veteran", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jason_Williams_(basketball,_born_1975)&oldid=1152339698, Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball players, People from Kanawha County, West Virginia, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 16:50. He became a regular on SportsCenter for his spectacular passes and dazzling assists. Known as one of the best passers in the league, Williams was often over-shadowed by other league stars in their prime. One was former Jets great and NFL Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, who brought kindly spiritual advice and hope. Gee, those were the best times. I play similar too. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Im a great friend. [17] On February 23, 2010, he was finally sentenced to 5 years in prison with possible parole after 18 months. But it all changed in an instant when Williams . Williams took over full-time care of his niece and nephew. As I got to see it and experience it, it really took off in my mind. [14], The NBA eventually levied a $15,000 fine on Jason Williams for cursing at fans. On August 2, 2005, Williams and teammate James Posey were two of thirteen players involved in the biggest trade in league history that saw them being dealt to the Miami Heat in exchange for shooting guard Eddie Jones.[21]. They found that the gun had been wiped clean. His life was a mess. Williams underwent intense physical therapy to regain the use of his left leg; leaving his basketball career in peril. Pursuant to that ruling, Williams emerged with a statement that presented a new perspective on the case. Members of Williams's NBA charity basketball team were present at the scene. ", "That's my only job -- to be sober," added Williams, who also is speaking out to help encourage opioid drug addicts seek help. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The cover-up was selfishness me trying to protect myself.". His post-NBA life has not been near as exciting as his basketball career, but it is safe to say that Jason Williams is enjoying every minute of it spent with his wife of 18 years and his kids. [26] The move reunited Williams with Stan Van Gundy, his former coach in Miami, who pushed the team to make the signing. It turned out to be a career-saving move for the former St. Johns star. On May 1, 2002, former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams was indicted on a series of charges, including aggravated manslaughter, in connection with the shooting death of limousine driver Costas Christofi at Williams estate on February 14. Williams then ran downstairs and dove into his indoor swimming pool, presumably to get rid of any gunpowder residue. Williams continues to be one of the most popular players in the Sacramento area. Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss was one of Williams' high school basketball teammates. [40], In the Rookie Challenge of the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2000, in a counter-attack, Williams made a no-look, behind-the-back pass off the elbow on a full sprint to Raef LaFrentz. After changing his name to Bison Dele in 1998, he up and left the NBA at age 30 walking away from . As one of the NBAs best rebounders, Jayson Williams appeared primed to dominate as he approached age 30. He was released on $250,000 cash bail. Some witnesses say Williams almost immediately began tampering with the scene to make it appear that Christofi killed himself while the rest of the group had been elsewhere in the house. He said he now starts his day at 4 am and "just keeps busy" helping others by working with the Rebound program. While doing so, he also had adopted his sisters children and had to make sure they were getting their education as well. Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on January 11, 2010. He says he stayed sober during that time, but upon his release from Rikers Island in April 2012, he was ill-equipped for life. He was never criminally charged in either case. An hour doesn't go by that I don't think about [the accident], think about how can I replay this as to bring back Mr. Christofi. Hed give you the shirt off his back and Ive seen that shirt, shoes. Eight years after a dragged-out court trial with numerous delays, Williams was sentenced to five years in prison. He is estranged from his two daughters, ages 16 and 15, who live with their mother in New Jersey. He spent 18 months in prison, and he was released April 13, 2012. Create a personalized profile and stay informed with tailored email notifications. [20][21] On the entire experience, Williams said in a 2012 interview with ESPN: "I truly don't want to see anybody cause any more pain to anybody. The AP reports that during a 1992 Chicago bar brawl with Charles Barkley, Williams smashed a "beer mug" over a man's head. He served an 18-month prison sentence before also serving another eight-month sentence for driving under the influence. They were able to confirm thatChristofi hadnt relapsed. After redshirting his first season, he averaged 13.4 points and 6.4 assists per game during his 199596 freshman year. This was about five years ago, after I had finished interviewing Williams and his . [42] Williams and his wife have three children; in his NBA profile, he listed his family as his "most treasured possession". Rather than dwell on the harsh realities, he dives deeper into his calling. [27] Orlando was also located just south of Gainesville, where he had gone to college. The two later parted. "I was the one who helped broker the deal this summer", O'Neal said (in 2005) of the five-team, 13-player trade that brought Williams to Miami. He did not want to give a lot of detail.. [3] His mother Barbara worked for years at Gouverneur skilled nursing facility in lower Manhattan. "[There is] nothing I can do or say to bring Mr. Christofi back," Williams said in the interview.
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